101 in 1001

Thanks to some girls like Jenni, Stacey and Mya, I have deiced to join the world of 101 in 1001. I will keep you updated, and blog about each item that is crossed off the list. Italics are for entries in progress, and if an item is in RED it has been completed. I will post a link to this post in my side bar so you can see how I'm doing!

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Here's the list:

Blog:

1. Write an entry once a week for 6 months not including the updates on the list (16/24)

2. Write about Suns once every other week during the season

*3. Write about race training once a month*

4. Inspire someone to do 101 in 1001 Completed 10/12/2009

5. Write about each task completed

Family:

6. Host Holiday Party (1/3) Party 1 Completed December 5, 2009

7. Send Christmas Cards (1/3) Cards mailed 2009

8. Back up photos on external hard drive and CDs

9. Have a movie night once a week for 6 months (19/24) Movie 1: Back to the Future 10/16/2009 Movie 2: Shrek 10/24/2009 Movie 3: Air Force One 10/30/2009 Movie 4: This is It 11/1/2009, Movie 5: Elf 11/8/2009, Movie 6: Star Trek 11/17/2009, Movie 7: Home Alone, 11/26/2009, Movie 8: The Greatest Game Ever Played 12/4/2009, Movie 9: Hook 12/10/2009, Movie 10: Enchanted 12/19/2009, Movie 11: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince 12/25/2009, Movie 12: The Hangover 12/28/2009, Movie 13: Night at the Museum, Battle of the Smithsonian 1/8/2010, Movie 14: A League of Their Own, Movie 15: Across the Universe 1/17/2010, Movie 16: Julie and Julia 1/25/2010, Movie 17: Alice in Wonderland 2/6/2010, Movie 18: A Chorus Line 2/11/2010, Movie 19: Win a Date with Tad Hamilton

10. Visit Phoenix Zoo Lights on Christmas Eve when in town Completed 12/24/2009

11. Agree on two boy names and two girl names (first and middle) (4/4) Completed 10/18/2009

12. Menu plan every week for 2 months (6/8) Week 1 December 20-24, Week 2 December 27-30, Week 3 January 3-9, Week 4 January 10-16, Week 5 January 17-23, Week 6 January 24-30

13. Try 10 new restaurants (4/10) Restaurant 1: Thee Pits Again 10/24/2009, Restaurant 2: Fajitas 11/10/2009, Restaurant 3: Manuel's 12/2/2009, Restaurant 4: Smith and Wollenskys 12/31/2009

14. Turn off computers after 6:00 for 20 work days (0/20)

15. Turn off computers after 5:00 for 20 work days (0/20)

16. Complete the Sistine Chapel Ceiling puzzle with Jason

17. Go to 3 First Fridays (0/3)

18. Go bowling twice a year (0/5)

19. Play mini golf once a year (1/3) Game 1: 10/25/2009

20. Celebrate anniversary on actual anniversary

21. Attend 3 concerts (0/3)

22. See 3 musicals (1/3) The Phantom of the Opera: 11/15/2009

23. Do not go on facebook for a week Completed 12/13/2009

Movies:

24. Buy released from the vault and new Disney major animated feature films Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 10/12/2009, Aristocats 12/25/2009

25. Buy new Pixar feature films Up 11/11/2009, Cars 12/25/2009, Monsters Inc. 12/25/2009

26. Show up in line at 8:00am for a midnight release of a movie

27. Attend the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

28. Attend the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

29. Watch Godfather Part 2

30. Watch Godfather Part 3

31. Watch 10 of the IMDB top 250 movies (3/10) Movie 1: Walle 10/15/2009, Movie 2: The Lion King 11/3/2009, Movie 3: Big Fish 11/16/2009

Travel:

32. Visit Disneyland on Halloween once

33. Attend DCI Finals in Indianapolis once

34. Attend a DCI show outside of AZ and CA (Indy does not count) once

35. Visit Grandma in Mississippi

36. Visit Jason's Grandma in Lake Havasu

37. Travel to a country I've never been to

38. Travel to a state I've never been to

39. Take Jason to NYC

40. Go on a cruise

41. Go camping

42. Visit the Grand Canyon for more than 1 hour

43. Travel to a Suns away game

44. Go see the New York Philharmonic Orchestra

45. Go see the Chicago Symphony

Me:

46. Read 6 new books a year (3 at 6 months) (2/15) Book 1: Something Borrowed, Book 2: Something Blue

47. Take a day for me once a month (4/32)

48. Create a scrapbook of family of vacations

49. Take Ballroom Dance lessons Completed 11/6/2009 Waltz and Rumba 10/14/2009, Tango and Cha Cha 10/21/2009, Foxtrot and East Coast Swing 10/28/2009, Samba 11/6/2009

50. Vote in a Non Presidential election Completed 10/27/2009

51. Categorize the DVD collection

52. Do something that I'm proud of

53. Get a facial

54. Try a new meal/food 6 times (1/6) Food 1: Chicken Empanadas Completed 10/27/2009

55. Try Zumba

56. Print important digital pictures

57. Buy a little black dress and feel hot in it

58. Complete the 5,000 question survey (0/5,000) (http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=D133099&entry=10001&mode=date)

59. Send a message in a bottle

60. Go swing dancing

61. Bake a cake

62. Find a wine I can drink and like

63. Tip 100% to a waiter who deserves it

64. Buy my mom flowers

65. Spend a weekend at a spa

66. Read all of Jane Austen's books (0/6)

67. Have a 30th Birthday Party

House:

68. Clean out 3rd bedroom

69. Add shelves to garage Completed 1/16/2010

70. Buy new master bedroom set

Going Green:

71. Buy a water heater blanket Completed 10/12/2009

72. Buy the can energy saver lights

Money:

73. Coupon clip

74. Create a shopping list for every weekly trip to the grocery store for 3 months (0/12)

75. Start an emergency fund

76. Earn a raise/promotion

77. Once pregnant, set up an account for college, etc, and deposit $20.00 a month Completed 12/19/2009

78. Put aside $5.00 for each item not completed

Health:

79. Lose 5lbs

80. Lose 10lbs

81. Lose 20lbs

82. Weigh 155

83. Race a half marathon

84. Race 2 sprint distance triathlons (0/2)

*85. Create monthly training plan each month and post in blog for 12 months (1/12)*

86. Drink 4 glasses of water a day for 30 days (30/30) Completed 11/22/2009

87. Drink 6 glasses of water a day for 30 days (30/30) Completed 12/22/2009

88. Drink 8 glasses of water a day for 30 days (0/30)

89. Workout/train 4 days a week for 30 minutes a day for 2 weeks (0/8)

90. Workout/train 4 days a week for 1 hour a day for 2 weeks (0/8)

91. Workout/train 5 days a week for 1 hour a day for 1 month (0/20)

92. Workout/train 5 days a week for 2 hour a day for 1 month (0/20)

93. Have no open circles on my BBT chart for 3 months (0/3)

95. Get pregnant Completed 12/12/2009

Community:

96. Donate to Goodwill Completed 10/31/2009

97. Donate food to local food bank

98. Donate books and puzzles to kids shelter

Ones I forgot to put in their category:

99. Watch a movie starting with each letter of the alphabet (8/26) A movie: Avatar Completed 1/18/2010, B movie: The Blind Side Completed 11/26/2009, D movie: Dreamgirls Completed 10/15/2009, F movie: Funny Girl Completed 11/2/2009, H movie: House Bunny, The Completed 10/23/2009, M movie: Marie Antoinette Completed 10/25/2009, P movie: P.S. I Love You Completed 11/9/2009, T movie: This is It Completed 11/1/2009

100. Take 43 pictures of 43 things/places within 43 miles from where I live (0/43)

101. "Unplug" from the TV, computer and cell phone for 1 day.

94. Get a promotion/higher paying job Completed 12/11/2009

So, what do you think?

Edit* the * are ones that are on hold due to pregnancy.

Finished a book last week and it made me think back to 10 and 11 years ago

I have been wanting to write about this since before I finished this book however I kept putting it off and now my thoughts are all jumbled or forgotten and I'm sure this will have no flow at all, but I still want to write about it.

Last Friday I finished reading a book entitled "Not For the Faint of Heart: My Journey into Manhood in the Santa Clara Vanguard". I myself am an alumnus of the Santa Clara Vanguard organization having marched with their feeder corps for 2 seasons. My second season, the author of this book was a member of the drum line staff. I had been meaning to pick up this book for quite some time though had never gotten around to it. It took a post on a drum corps message board in June about the founder of SCV for my husband who is a regular visitor to the site to sit down and order it for me. And, there it sat, in my house, until Labor Day weekend when I finally picked it up to read it. Reading this book made me reflect on my 2 years in drum and bugle corps. While nothing could ever be the same experiences as to what the author of this book describes, there were some similarities in them.

I love marching. I began marching with the colorguard my freshman year of high school in Orange County. I switched over to the band after that season was over and almost never turned back. I remember the first time I heard about this world of Drum and Bugle Corps. I had just gotten to school one morning in the fall of 95 or spring of 96 and posted outside of the band room was a banner congratulating members of the Capo band on making the Blue Devils. I had no idea what the Blue Devils were. I eventually found out that they were one of the best drum and bugle corps around. For me being uneducated, I was told that a drum corps is like a professional marching band without woodwinds. I was intrigued with the idea of being able to march outside of high school. I watched a video of the Blue Devils and their show from that year, 96, the following fall. That fall I also made the switch officially to trombone for marching band, thus beginning my marching career.

In March of 97 I moved to a town just south of San Jose, CA. By moving, that put me closer to these Blue Devils. They were the group that I wanted to be a part of. I remember sitting in brass class at my new school (we were divided into brass/percussion and woodwinds so we each had our own period with the band director and came together a few nights before a concert to play together) and learning that this french horn player, who was their drum major the past fall, was in this group called Vanguard Cadets. I heard "guard" in the title and immediately thought that she was in a colorguard group. I thought, oh, that's cool, another brass player who does guard on the side.

That summer, I went to my very first DCI show (DCI being Drum Corps International, the circuit that BD and SCV compete in). That show was in Hayward, CA, the home show of the Santa Clara Vanguard. As I didn't put two and two together with "Vanguard" and "Vanguard Cadets" I do not remember if I watched their show that night. I remember wanting to find the Blue Devils that I knew that were marching from Capo. I later found out that my trombone section leader at Capo was marching euphonium with the Santa Clara Vanguard. I remember sitting in the stands and seeing a big group wearing green performing their show and learning that they were not a local group, that they came out from Rosemont, Illinois to perform. The Blue Devil's show that year was to the theme of Casablanca, only my favorite movie of all time, so I made sure to watch them. I continued to be mesmerized by what they were doing and awestruck with the fact that I knew people in that group, knew that I marched with people in that group.

After the season ended, I recorded the PBS broadcast of Finals that year, which the Blue Devils did win with that Casablanca show that to this day remains my favorite drum corps show. It was through watching all of the groups that I learned of the Santa Clara Vanguard and that by Santa Clara, meant that they were much closer to me than Concord.

The fall of 97 was my first marching band season with my new school, one that was considerably better than my previous school. The director is a DCI judge. Our visual instructor was (is still I think) a visual instructor for the Blue Devils, Mr. Todd Ryan. I felt better about myself that season, my marching and my talents that I wanted to join the Vanguard Cadets, the same group that the french horn player joined. I had learned by this point that they were the feeder to the big guys. I remember showing up to the audition camp Friday night after most of the practices were over and meeting with the director of the Vanguard Cadets with my parents. They were asking him questions on what it was like, the commitment, the costs... I do remember being asked if I wanted to stay at the camp that weekend. I didn't have to audition as I was joining the Vanguard Cadets and not the big guys but I wanted to get a feel for it all. I was a trombone player picking up a baritone for the first time ever and having to remember what it was like to read treble clef instead of base clef. They did have me go in a room to "audition" which I think for me was just playing a scale. Funny to think about it now.

After that weekend, I was officially a member of the Vanguard Cadets. I had practice twice a week and then one full weekend a month in which my family housed a member from Tempe, AZ during those weekend camps. I remember not getting along with my section leader, at all. To this day I don't remember some of the fights that we had, but I could not stand her, which, for being my section leader, was not exactly a good predicament to be in. As I read this book, he talks about his rookie year in the Santa Clara Vanguard and how a member of his section did not get along with him at all, the fights they would have, the yelling... It reminded me of these fights I had with my section leader.

My first year was obviously a learning experience for me. I made many mistakes as one would expect. My problem was though that I was never called out by my name of Katie. I was always called out by this nickname that I was given. My high school's mascot was an acorn and one of our visual instructors also went to this high school. We were the two "nuts". However, that mascot of acorn was the name that I was given. So, anytime I messed up I would hear "Acorn! Can't you get this right! You didn't make it by count 16" and so forth. I felt like while many members didn't know my actual name, they knew who Acorn was. I felt like quitting as I felt like I couldn't get anything right. I almost did that season. I had previously been awarded a spot in a trio for a soprano (a trumpet), mellophone and baritone with me playing the baritone part. Due to visual difficulties and where myself and the mellophone player had to be after this trio, it was made into a soprano trio. I was so upset, I remember storming off the field saying that it was the only reason why I was staying with the corps. I ended up coming back of course, I just had to think about why I wanted to march. The author of this book also had moments where we wanted to quit but he made it through that season.

My next high school marching band season was rather difficult for me. Having marched for a full season of drum and bugle corps and making the return to the high school level was quite a shock for me. Thankfully, our new visual staff member was the drum major for the Santa Clara Vanguard in 96 and 97. As soon as I learned of this and he made it to camp, I met him. I became his go to person for the band for visual examples which may have helped or may have hurt me. I also showed up to some of the clinics for the Santa Clara Vanguard to prepare me for auditions. Even there, where he was on staff with them, he used me and some actual vets to display certain exercises.

I however decided to not audition that year. I got scared. My new plan was to march the Vanguard Cadets again then audition after that. However, I left the Vanguard Cadets very early on in the season. I had feelings back and forth about wanting to march or not. I continued my senior year and began swing dancing a lot in Santa Cruz over the weekends when the rest of the members of the corps were hard at practice. Something in me told me to go march. So, I rejoined the Vanguard Cadets corps in time for the Memorial Day Weekend camp. The author of the book also had no plans on returning to the corps but someone reached out to him that he did not know and convinced him to return to the corps for his second season.

Just after I returned, I showed up at practice to learn the news of a bass drummer who had died in a car accident from the big guys. We were all seated learning the news. I remember thinking during that practice that it felt like people were taking advantage of the situation and allowing to have a less than satisfactory practice even though most of us did not know him. I read the perspective of what it was like in this book. The funeral with the member wearing his uniform, the corps going home and experiencing electrical problems near the site of his accident for unexplained reasons, I was balling.

This second season in the Vanguard Cadets was a much shorter season than the 98 season. 98 we went to Finals in Orlando in August. 99, we only went to Drums Along the Rockies in Denver in the middle of July. 98 I went Thanksgiving weekend to Finals. 99, I rejoined at the end of May. I had to miss the first 2 shows of the 99 season as I had previously committed to attending my freshman orientation at my new college that same weekend. I also fell during a running block one morning at Santa Teresa High School. I was towards the end of the block and a member from the soprano line was running in the block in the opposite direction to yell at the people that were slow and not running with the block. Her legs got tangled in my legs and I fell and hurt my knee. That prevented me from practicing when we went on our Southern California tour and thus prevented me from performing more shows. When I finally was able to perform, the group as a whole had no energy and was not performing up to our potential. These lackluster performances went on for quite a few shows. I actually remember the author talking to us about this and our lack of passion at these shows. I also remember talking to him about this after a show while still hanging out in the stands because it was stick uneventful. I had no idea that he went through the same thing in the 98 season, his last season marching. The corps was not performing up to their potential and their shows were just "blah". Reading his book I found that he was approached to talk to the members of the corps without staff about this very problem.

I remember coming off the field after the last show in Denver and crying. Everyone was crying, it was the last show. But, I wasn't crying because it was a great show, I still felt nothing while marching off of that field. I hated it. I wanted so much to have a great show and feel like the corps as a whole had a great show and that didn't translate to me.

Sadly, that show was my last show as a marching drum corps member. I went to audition for the big guys like I had planned for the 2000 season however I did not march. I made it, but left as I had the opportunity to go to Egypt and Israel over the summer. How many people can say they were there? I knew it was something I had to do. I still had 2 more years after all.

I auditioned for the 2001 season and made it. Again, I decided not to march as I had changed my major in school and thus was highly encouraged to do an internship and I did my internship at the Disneyland Resort that summer. No sweat, 1 more year, the year that matters.

Well, I auditioned again, made it. Was asked about it by the Baritone/Euphonium tech if I regretted not marching those 2 years. Honestly, I did not, and I still don't. I had an amazing time those 2 summers doing things that I knew I would never have the opportunity to do again. With the assurance that I was not going to not march, I was in. The December camp came and I was now an out of town member as my college was out of state. I had been informed previously that out of town members who had officially made it (not an alternate) were not required to attend the December camp and to show up in January. So, my family went on vacation for the holidays and took an enjoyable Disney cruise. While on this trip I received an email saying that I had been cut. I was devastated. If I was supposed to show up why tell me that I don't? I seriously thought about pretending that I had never seen the email and still showing up in January to see what happened. I was encouraged not to do so in case I decided I couldn't hack it and quit. I really wish I had decided to show up in January to see what happened. I think that's partially why I decided to do that triathlon. I wanted to prove to the people that told me to not show up in January that I could actually follow through and achieve something.

Anyway, there's my rant. Reading that book made me think back to my two seasons marching. It made me reflect on those years in a different light. I am glad that I was able to march as much as I did. Though I must say, it still makes me think back on what could have been in 2002.

"Ready to be a mom?"

So, Monday I had my CD3 blood work and the ultrasound as requested by the doc. I didn't have to go in for the ultrasound at any specific time, so when I called up, they had availability that afternoon and off I went. I'll be wanting to go back in for my follow up/results talk but sitting around for 2 weeks before I can do that! My CD21 blood work is on October 2 but my appointment is not until the 19th. Now, to work on getting Jason into the doctor. He told me he has no problems with going in and providing his specimen if I check back ok, but the doc wants him in before they reveal my results. So, we'll see. I'm still deciding how to approach that. He's tired all the time now due to marching band being in full swing again. Tonight is his only night off this school week as he had practice Monday and Tuesday, an away game Thursday and more practice Friday. It only gets better when you add competitions to the mix on Saturdays in October and early November.

Monday I was at Jason's practice, as I frequently am being on the staff for the show. They were getting ready to practice stand tunes (for which I have no part in) so I decided I would leave. On my way out, I stopped to talk to Jason's colorguard instructor. He asked me how things were going and if I had planned anymore runs or triathlons to do. I told him that the triathlons were pretty much done for the year unless I want to go to Page in October for a race in Lake Powell but that I'm looking at a couple of runs and possible training for the Disney Princess 1/2 marathon in March at Walt Disney World. He asked what might stand in the way of that and I told him the obvious answer of if I was pregnant as we were ready for a baby. He then asked me "Are you ready to be a mom?" Hearing it that way, it really caught me off guard. I had just gone through the joys of bladder control and the vag cam (oh yeah, I had the surprise of that Monday as well) and was putting forth effort to have a baby. When you are set on having a baby, you might forget the other part of that... Becoming a parent. Becoming a mom scares me. It really does, but I want to do it, I want to be one. I didn't have a response at the time for him because of that realization of having a baby means becoming a parent other than the "yeah, we've been talking and we're both ready" stuff. It made me think about things afterwards and yeah, I'm ready to be a mom. I may not be ready for the challenges that lie ahead of me, but that is part of being a parent.

Not sure how to read the whole thing

So, at CD31, this is where I sit. Every other cycle (for the most part) I have seen in my books and searching has a definite difference between the two sides. Granted, the right side is overall higher, but there are temps (most) on the left that are still above the line. Plus, we have all those open circles. Most were from me being in CA at the race and sleeping in late or going to bed late and sleeping my normal 8 hours but getting up late. Who knows!

In the meantime though, I had my annual exam on Thursday with a new office. I mentioned my previous diagnosis of PCOS from my former office, and why I am not continuing to go there. The doctor has a hard time believing this PCOS diagnosis as I am not "Large" as she put it. True, but my BMI is in the overweight category. So, we're doing a little bit more to verify. I am having my medical reports sent over from the previous office and on CD3 and CD21 I go in for some blood work and on any random day they want me to go in for an ultrasound. She also recommends buying some OPKs. After all is said and done, I have another appointment for October 19th to go over those results and see if they agree with PCOS. If so, we're going to look at my options. In the mean time, I'm going to continue this temp charting and see if I can make any sense out of it.

Does it make sense for anyone else?

**Edit** Make it CD1, not 31.

Disney run recap

So, as you can see, we did the race! It was a fantastic Girls weekend at Disneyland. I can't remember the last time I was at the park with just my sister. The run was great, and we actually did run most of it. There were some real bottleneck areas that made it impossible to run and there were a few areas that were very spread out that encouraged us to walk, but otherwise, we ran. It was actually a lot of fun. In fact, we even discussed possibly doing the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World in March. Are we crazy? I think so!

Could this really be happening?

Mittelschmerz is a medical term for "ovulation pain" or "midcycle pain". Nearly 1/4 of women experience mittelschmerz, some every cycle, some intermittently. 

I've always known I had stomach problems. It's only now that I'm beginning to realize when these stomach problems occur. I know that I have a really bad upset stomach that comes in waves which require runs to the restroom every 45 minutes for a few hours a few days before my period. I know that occasionally I will have some sharp pains in my stomach. Having started reading the 2 books I got on fertility, I read about ovulation pain, this "mittelschmerz" that some women have. A tell tale sign that ovulation is occurring. Well, here I am, close to my anticipated ovulation date if I do ovulate, and this pain occurred. Of course, I guess I'll have to wait to see my temperature tomorrow to see if that was in fact what that pain was, but there may be hope after all! But, one calendar app I use on my phone had my anticipated ovulation date as today, another had it at tomorrow. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

It really needs to cool off

I'm not a fan of these 110 degree days in August. Really. It can go away now. I have not worked out consistently since the race in May. Granted, I did want to take the rest of May off. So, I have June through August. It's just too hot! I am in no way motivated to go to the gym when I get in my car after work and my car is scorching hot. Before work is not an option, my gym is not open before work starts, and if I allow myself to come home first, there is no way I'm going to leave to go back to the gym. *Sigh*

Because of that, I have put back on 10 of the 15 pounds I lost while training for my triathlon.

I leave Thursday after work for Orange County to participate in the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. My sister and I are both running the 5K race on Saturday morning through Disneyland park. Sounds all fine and dandy, right? Sure, the course takes you through both Disneyland and California Adventure (the finish line is on Main Street before the park opens). However, it is still 3.1 miles. I couldn't run 3.1 miles while I was training, much less now after not going to the gym since May. I was thinking no matter what I'd be ok as the course started at one end of Downtown Disney and took you to the parks. Now, it starts at the parking garage and you run the tram route before going into the parks. That's not nearly as fun nor as distracting as the Downtown Disney portion. I'm really going to feel like I'm running! Hopefully my sister will stay with me, camera in hand, and we'll take pictures along the way wearing our Mickey Ears!