I'm still here!!

We are back from our trip and it was a trip to Disney World. My friend, Darlene, and I surprised the kids. They had clues that they were given from time to time during the drive down. It took them 12 hours to figure it out and then they were so excited and couldn't believe that we were taking them there. It was a great trip and there was nothing that could have gone better.

Today is 2 weeks since we left and it has been crazy since we've been back. I have a ton of homework due by June 25th. I haven't worked out since being home except for a couple times on WII Fit. It really is a good workout for those of you wondering. I feel like I've gained weight and I just can't get back in a healthy routine. UGH!!!

Here are goals for this coming week.

*FInish my homework
*Get to the gym twice.
*Walk in the neighborhood twice
*Don't eat out
*Grab fruit when hungry

I leave on the 28th for our family road trip to the east coast. We will be going to NY, VA. and Washington DC. We will be taking in the Baseball Hall of Fame, a Yankees game, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Colonial Williamsburg, and July 4th fireworks in our Nation's capitol. I can't wait!!

I will get back to you soon regarding how everything is going.
I hope you all have a great first day of Summer today. Get out there and have some summer fun!!

Heading out of town!!

Just wanted to let you know that I'm heading out of town for awhile. My friend (Darlene who I have been friends with for almost 23 years) and I have planned a secret trip. We have been planning it for almost 4 months and it's hear finally. :-) The best part is my kids do not even know where we are going. Their last day of school was today and we head out tomorrow. I'll tell you more when I can. I never know when my kids will read my blog. I don't want to blow anything.

I'll have my laptop with me, but I'm not sure how realistic it will be to blog.

Gotta run! Heading off to have fun!! Will be back around the 15th. Bye!!

I won the Soda bet and still going strong!!

Remember I had a bet with my brother about NO SODA. I won. He went on a camping trip with about 6 other guys and that is when he had some. He says it's funny though cause now he doesn't even like the taste of it. He gave in around day 66ish and did not tell me for about 2 weeks. I think he was hoping I would give in before then. He keeps telling me I can have one now, but I haven't and today is day 88 without soda. Go me. We bet a CD, but instead he will be getting me a 15 dollar ITUNES card.
I knew I would win. :-)

Bike the Drive 2008

I did Bike The Drive again today. This is my third year. This is where they close down Lake Shore Drive and open it to bikers for 5 hours. It is right on the Lake Front and it is fun. I biked 33 miles , which was the total ride including biking to and from the train. There will be more to come (including video inspired by Bold's biking video), but I'm tired, I'm hurting (I'll tell that story later) and I have homework. UGH!!

Later my friends.

Please pray for Steven Curtis Chapman's family today!

Steven Curtis Chapman is a Christian Music artist who lost his 5 year old daughter yesterday. They live in a rural area in Tennesee and have a long winding driveway. Her brother was backing out of the driveway in an SUV and killed his little sister. She was the youngest of 6 children. She was the third daughter that the Chapmans brought home from China. They are big advocates of International adoption.

Please pray for the whole family, but especially her teenage brother. I cannot imagine what he is going through. This happened Wednesday around 5:30pm.

I don't know what else to write. I'm so sad. Whenever I hear about these accidents I get so sad. Please, please, please make sure that your driveway and street are clear of any children before pulling out. These accidents can even happen with the rearview cameras, naviagion systems, and rearview sounding systems. Just because you have these systems does mean these accidents won't happen. I found a statistic online that states:

"One third of children under six killed in motor vehicle accidents were killed ‘off road’ in yards, parking lots and driveways. Children aged one and two are most likely to be killed or injured in home driveways. The vehicle is usually moving slowly and is often being driven by a parent, relative or friend."


If you would like to read more on this tragic story you can read this link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24766629/

Have a blessed day. Hug your little ones a little longer today.

Maria is sitting on her daddy's lap in the picture. She is the one that passed away.

Student Teaching

I got the call today with my student teaching placement. I let my college know that Wauconda was my first choice, but that I would student teach anywhere. Wauconda is where I live. The grade I would like to teach is 3rd grade. I got placed in Wauconda in a 3rd grade classroom at a school called Robert Crown Elementary School. The school is just 5 minutes from my house. It works out great because I still have to get home and get my 3rd grader off the bus. This really makes everything more real to me and makes me even more motivated to finish my homework.

Speaking of which . . . . I need to get going.

God is good all the time. All the time God is good.

Remember at the end of each day to think about how blessed you are not how stressed you are.

WW UPDATE and STARBUCKS UPDATE and PICKED MY 1/2 IRONMAN

Starting Weight: 306.2
This week's Weightloss: 1.2
Total Weightloss: 11.8 pounds total
Current Weight: 294.4

I am on my way!!

Well, today was my one month anniversary or studying at the same Starbucks. I love my Saturday evening crew. Tonight there was someone new that I hadn't met before. Ryanon (pronounced Reeannin. She is named after a Fleetwood Mac song) is a mom of a 5 year old little girl and a 1 year old little boy. She goes to curves and is working on getting healthy too. She really is a cool person to know and I cannot wait to get to know her better.

Regina is great too. She makes me laugh all the time. Tyler has the coolest Mom Tattoo that I have ever seen. Adam is one of a set of triplets. He is always wondering how I am doing and asks about my homework and remembers that I am watching what I eat and drink, so he tries to advise me on what drinks are more healthy (if you can even say that about Starbucks) and hooks me up and I'm starting to get to know Jeremy too. He also helps me pick out what to drink.

Tonight they were more than generous. They gave me a free drink of the mint chocolate chip frappacino. They gave me the smallest size and I couldn't even drink half if it, it was so sweet. Ryanon said she didn't like it, but I tried it anyway and I didn't like it either, but I will say it sure beats the Green Tea drink that Regina had me try a couple weeks ago. BLAH!! They also gave me some pastries that they were going to throw out. I took them home for the kids and Keith. They will be having scones for breakfast.

If you ever want free food from Starbucks be there on Saturday nights at closing.

Here is a poem that I wrote a long time ago about my favorite Starbucks drink evah!! They do not make it anymore, so I have to have a Raspberry flavored one instead of Blackberry. It is good, but not as good. :-( I miss you BBGT Frap.

BBGT Frap by Melissa Black

I learned about a product at Starbucks the other day.
It's called a Blackberry Green Tea Frappicino they say.

I ordered a Venti not realizing it was bigger than a Grande.
I walked out the door, drink in hand it was early Monday.

I got in my car and headed to work,
took a sip of my drink and my taste buds went berserk.

I couldn't believe this light green creation.
It was the beginning of a taste bud sensation.

I knew this was love at first taste,
so I savored every sip, I didn't drink it in haste.

I knew that something had just begun.
It was a love affair with this flavor upon my tongue.

BBGT Frap is what I nicknamed my new favorite drink.
"When's my next trip to Starbucks?" is now what I think.

I'd go everyday if I could,
but I'm trying to lose weight, so that's no good.

So, once a week is where I'm at, "
I'll see you next week my dear, sweet BBGT Frap."

I think that it is funny that my post is called WW UPDATE and STARBUCKS. I am working hard all week and allowing my treat to be Saturday at Starbucks. It's working for me. :-) I know by the sounds of this post you are all probably wondering if I ever get any work done. I do. Tonight I was there for about 5 1/2 hours and I wrote 6 essays ranging from 2-5 paragraphs each. I also read about 20-30 pages for another assignment.

I'm enjoying my recent weightloss accomplishments and my schooling. I am on a roll and cannot wait so see what's next.

May 25th I am doing a 30 mile bike ride called BIKE THE DRIVE. This will be my third year doing it and I cannot wait.

I decided that I am going to do the Cutting Edge 1/2 Ironman in Effingham, Illinois June of 2011. Go Me!! I'm scared to death, but totally pumped!! I was talking to my bestbud of 23 years about this and she might actually do it with me. We picked this one cause we like the name of the town and it is the only one in Illinois that I can find.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Count your blessings!!

BIG DECISION about triathlons

I have made a big decision. I have decided that in the Summer of 2011 I will be doing a 1/2 Ironman Triathlon.

For those of you who do not know that is a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and a 13.1 mile run, which is a 1/2 marathon.

I know this may seem like a long way off, but it will be here before I know it. Here is my tentative plan.

Summer 2008 and the rest of 2008-drop as much weight as I can. That is about 7 1/2 months left. I want to get my back, neck, and ankles healthy. I will be doing some biking events,5k's, and volunteering at bigger events.

Summer 2009-I will be doing a couple of sprint triathlons (Approx. 1/2 mile swim, 15 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run) and my VERY FIRST Olympic Distance Triathlon (Approx. 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, and 6.2 mile run). My goal is by summer of 2009 to run all my races. I do not want to be a walker anymore. I think that losing my access weight will help with that goal.

Summer 2010- I will only be doing Olympic distance triathlons and more running events.

Summer 2011- I will do my first 1/2 Ironman distance triathlon.

Obviously this is a ways off, but being 295 pounds makes me well aware that I have a long road ahead of me to get to the 1/2 Ironman distance, but I know I can and I know I will get there. I'm excited and cannot wait to see where this Ironman journey takes me.

As I go forward I will need a lot of help. Once I have a job (Estimated Fall of '09) I will be hiring a coach and taking private swimming lessons. Those of you that read my blog and do triathlons I will take all the help I can and once I am training for all of this I will need you all to hold me accountable. And I know you will.

Here's to a healthier me and here's to my 1/2 Ironman journey!!

Happy Mother's Day or is it?

Today is always bitter sweet for me.
I am a motherless mother.
That has been something that has been hard for me to deal with.
It has been eleven years since my mom's passing, but there are days that it seems like we just got the call.

Every year it amazes me what sparks what.
This year Keith's Grandma is sick. She is 93. She is not doing well.
Right before mother's day this year as part of homework I had to write about a character that was a motherless daughter and how this affected her life. This made me look at my life and how being a motherless daughter and a motherless mother have affected my life. I cried hard in walmart this year shopping for mother's day cards and for Keith's grandma. It was hard.

Since my mom's passing I have had to reevaluate what family is. I have great family memebers, but some of them live out of state and cannot be as involved as they would like. Some family I haven't really heard from since my mom's passing, so I have come to the realization that I was trying to hold onto ideals just because that is how it is supposed to be, but I have realized that family is not just blood. My kids have adopted grandparents in the area. My bestfriend is their AUNT and my aunt who lives in California is more like my Mom. And we are very blessed to have my brother and his wife and their 2 year old just four doors down. I take mother's day to honor those females who are a part of my life and who make not having a mom just a little bit easier. Thanks.

I could just stay in bed all day and play the poor me card all day, but the Lord knew that wouldn't do and he blessed me with the most precious children. Tricia is 10 and Parker is 8. They love me so much and show me in so many different ways. They hug and kiss me all the time. They tell me thanks mom all the time and they make me smile all the time. They even tell me I'm the best cook even when I just heat up a pizza. :-) They are my world and I love the title of mom. Yes, mother's day is hard and I wish I could celebrate it with my mom, but I am the happiest mom around today because I have my own children.

So the title of this post is Happy Mother's Day or is it? I answer yes it is.

For those of you that have lost your mom's recently I am here for you and I am so sorry. It is not easy at any age to lose your mom.
For those of you who want to be a mom, but can't. I am here for you.
For those of you who have lost childern, I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart.

For those of you who have people in these positions here is some advice:

-don't say to the person who has lost their mom. "We'll at least you are a mom. That's gotta make mother's day easier." It does, but it doesn't take away our pain.
-For someone that has lost their mom don't say, "It's been eleven years, aren't things easier now?" Yes, they are, but there is always something that sparks a new feeling of sadness."
-If you know someone trying to get pregnant don't say, " You could always adopt." They already know that. They don't need to be reminded.
-If they lost a child don't say, "At least you have more at home." They cherish the ones they have at home, but that doesn't lessen the pain they are feeling about losing the one.
-Just tell them you are there for them and will listen whenever they need a friend. Truly listen to them. Let them talk, cry, and offer a lot of hugs. If you don't know what to say it's ok to say, "I don't know what to say, but I'm here for you." In fact that is the best thing you can say.

Happy Mother's day to all my favorite mother's out there.
and Happy Sunday to my friends who are not mom's yet, but who mean the world to me.
I love you all and could not do the things I do without you. You all mean the world to me and I wanted to take a moment today to tell you that. Love you. Smooches.

Thank you Tricia and Parker for making me a mom. I love you both so much and am so happy that I am your mom. It is a happy mother's day and I love being a mom.

WW Update

Lost 1.4 pounds

Starting weight was 306.2
Today's weight is 295.6

Total weightloss is 10.6

GO ME!!

Homework Zone

I'm in the zone, the homework zone. When I'm not with the fam all I'm doing is sticking my nose in a book. I'm becoming friends with the local Starbucks Saturday evening crew. I spent 6 hours there yesterday doing homework. I get free food and free drinks. They know I'm trying to lose weight, so they make me skinny drinks. Don't worry I'm being careful and it's only on Saturdays. My friend Darlene came with me last night to do some work of her own. She left and brought me dinner and when she came back she went through the drive-thru and asked them to deliver it to me. Right before she pulled up I went up the the counter and asked them, "Hey has anyone delivered anything for me?" They were very confused and said no and then she pulled up and asked them to deliver it to me. It was great and they all had a good laugh. When you have a friend for almost 23 years you do crazy stuff together. Lake Zurich Starbucks Evening Crew YOU GUYS ROCK!! Regina, I'm not sure I'll ever like that Green Tea powder. We'll see. :-)

I will be sporadic with the posting right now, but know I'm doing great with my eating, ok with my working out, and awesome with my homework.

I will continue to give weight watchers and Ironman updates, but that might be it for awhile. You can email me if you want. I'll still be following your journeys. Keep up all the great work your doing, Keep on Keepin' on, Dream Big, Eat less, move more, Get well soon,Keep searching for God, don't kill anyone at work, and keep posting about those cute kids. YOU CAN DO IT!! I think I pretty much covered everyone's blogs I read :-) and the most important COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. Have a blessed day everyone. Graduation here I come!!! For those of you who do not know I will be graduating with my elementary education degree December of this year. WaaaaHooooo!! Go me!!

WW UPDATE

Weight Watchers Update

Last week 297.2 pounds
This week 297 pounds

Lost .2 pounds. Go me!!

My goal is to lose weight every week for the next 6 weeks. I'll keep you posted!!

Ironman Wisconsin Here I come!!

They opened registration for volunteers today and I am so pumped up!!
I cannot wait to be part of an Ironman in this fashion.

On Saturday I am checking in Gear Bags from 10-3pm.
Sunday I am doing Body Marking at 4:45-7:00am.
Sunday I am working a Run Aid Station from 11:00-3:30pm
Sunday I am working at the Finish Line handing out medals and t-shirts from 6-9pm.

I cannot wait. If any of you bloggers out there know anyone doing this event or if you are going to do it let me know, so I can say hi and cheer them or you on. I already have one friend doing it that I have never met in person, so he is going to try and bring his gear by when I am there.

Recently so many of you have touched my heart while doing Ironman Arizona. I was truly inspired and in awe of you. I have been reading your stories and following your journeys. Thank you so much. I feel this is a way that I can give back to the athletes I have come to admire so much!!

WaaaaaHoooooo!!

I have a question

Why do events always have to be on Sunday? Is there a simple explanation that I am missing. My relationship with God is number 1 in my life above everything else and it is very hard for me to decide sometimes if I will do an event or not based on the fact that I will have to miss church. I have always told my kids that church is a priority. I have told them they cannot go to birthday parties on Sundays if it means we leave church early and we do not play sports on Sundays. I have realized now that they are older they might actually start to question this when all of my events are on Sundays. I feel like I am contradicting what I have told my kids.

I have missed church this month for a 17 mile ride.
I will miss church in May for a 30 mile ride.
I will miss church in June so I can either spectate or volunteer at the Triathlon I usually do.
I will miss church in September to volunteer at Ironman Wisonsin.

That's not even counting the 5K's I want to do, which are all on Sundays. I'll probaby skip some of these, so I'm not missing so much church or look for some Saturday events.

Where does is say THOU SHALT HOST ALL EVENTS ON SUNDAY? This is something I always struggle with.

Please if any of you have any idea why this is please fill me in.

I did the FOLKS ON SPOKES Easter Ride today!!

Well, folks I did my bike ride today. It was 51 degrees when I started my ride and by the time I was done it was 72 degress. The weather was perfect. I could not have asked for a more beautiful day. I guess in pervious years it was rainy and cold. I told one volunteer that the reason the weather was finally nice is because I came to the race. They asked if I would come back next year. :-)

There were several routes that you could bike. There was a 16, 25, 28, 38, ad 68 mile route. I was going to do the 25 mile route, but as I got going and my ankle started hurting at about mile 6 I decided it would be best if I just did the 16 today. There was some pretty scenary to look at, like farmland, lakes, birds, and the such. I was pretty much alone for the whole ride. The rest stop was at a forest preserve type area and was very pretty. This was the most food I have ever seen at a rest stop. They had tons of sweets, bagels with all kinds of toppings, bananas, oranges, and chili. I think that was all. I had a bagel, banana, and a gatorade. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by the food spread because the brouchere said this event was all about the FOOD, folks, and fun. I was by myself, so I started talking to a family that was there. They were really nice. Sometimes I think it is nice to do these events by yourself because it forces you to meet people.

Once I hit the rest stop my route turned around and went back the way I had come and I was doing fine and then BAM there was this huge hill just minutes from the finish line. Man, that was one tough hill, but I was determined not to walk up it and I didn't, but I sure did want my MOMMY!! :-) I'm a little sore, but overall it was a great day!! I am so happy I did it.

For all you triathletes that read my blog I have a bum ankle and this is the first time since it has been acting up that I wore my clip in shoes. It was bothering me the whole time. Is there anything I can do to try and make this better? New shoes, change pedals? etc. Also, if you have wide feet out there what clip in shoes do you wear and I'm talking REALLY wide? Thanks for any advice.

I also named my bike today while I was out there on the road. I named her ROSEBUD because of her deep red color and I haven't decided yet if I will call her ROSE or BUD. I'll figure that out on the next ride.

IRONMAN UPDATE:
Swim: 1/2 mile
Bike: 22 miles
Run: 1.75 miles

Off to a bike ride this morning!!

I'm off to do the Easter Ride in the South Suburbs of Chicago. It is a ride where you can pick your route up to 65 miles. I will be doing the 25 mile ride. I'm very excited to get out there and that will add some impressive miles to my IRONMAN stats.

Have a blessed Sunday Everyone!!

WW UPDATE and IRONMAN UPDATE AND IRONMAN WISCONSIN

Well, folks I'm on my way to becoming a healthier, happier person. I have gone 42 days without Soda and 12 without sweets. I was in the gym Mon-Fri this week and I feel great!!

WEIGHT WATCHERS UPDATE:

Last time I was there I was 297. That was almost a month ago. Today I weighed in at 297.2. I know it's only .2 pounds, but I was very bummed. I feel like I am finally doing everything right, so I thought I would see more of a loss this week, but what I have learned through my journey is that I cannot look to the scale for my successes. That will come with time. Here are successes that I have had recently:

-I'm spending more time with God
-42 days off soda
-12 days off sweets ( I know you are all probably sick of reading that, but I'm so proud of myself)
-Swam 1/2 mile
-In the gym on a regular basis now
- I'm cooking more
-I'm not eating out as much
-I have more energy
-I'm watching less TV
-I'm happier than I have been in a looooong time

I want my kids to learn that being healthy is a lifestyle not a diet and they are seeing that in me and they are even doing things that they haven't before. I'm very proud of myself and my recent successes and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead. Go Me!!

IRONMAN UPDATE:

Swim: 1/2 mile
Bike: 5 miles
Run: 1.75 miles

IRONMAN WISCONSIN:

SEPTEMBER 7, 2008 is Ironman Wisconsin and I have decided that I am going to volunteer at the event. I have been so moved by Ironman AZ that I decided that even if I never compete in an Ironman I want to be involved, so I was thinking of going and being a spectator this year, but instead I decided to give back to the athletes that I have come to admire so much by volunteering my time. It is the least I can do. I am so excited about the prospect of volunteering, so if any of you are going to be doing it please let me know, so when I am there we can meet.

Later!!

Priceless

Signing up for a 25 mile bike ride for Sunday: $25
Swim Aerobics Class: 1 hour
Zumba Dance Aerobic Class: 1 hour
Recubant bike: 3 miles

Feeling great and like I can conquer the world: PRICELESS


IROMAN UPDATE:
Swim: 1/2 mile
Bike: 3 miles
Run: 0 miles

40 days off Soda
11 off sweets.

GO ME!!

I'm doing my own IRONMAN

I went swimming yesterday for the first time in who knows how long. I'm not really that great, but boy did it feel great to be back in the water. I swam 1/2 a mile and had a lot of time to think about what I was doing with my life. I realigned some of my priorities that got a little out of whack and I was really thinking about IRONMEN. You all amaze me, so I decided that over the next couple of months I would do my own IRONMAN in honor of Commodore and in honor of my friend Benny. There are links to their blogs on the side bar (Commodore and Iron Benny). These two incredible individuals have really helped me in my motivation to get healthy and to be happy. I am truly blessed to have met them through the triathlon community. I am also doing this in honor of all the men and women who got out there with Comm and Ben this past Sunday and did the AZIM. I am not saying finished because if you got out there and even tried it you did it. My hats off to all of you.

For those of you who don't know an Ironman is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 bike and 26.2 run. I will be doing this and hope to finish by June 17. I'll keep you posted.

My Ironman update:
Swim: 1/2 mile
BIke: 0 miles
Run (or for me walk): 0 Miles

Have a blessed day!!

Public Service Announcement

This blog post is brought to you by Melissa's busy life. With such sponsors as homework, kid's schedules, excercising, and keeping up with the house.

Please do not be alarmed if there are not any blog posts for awhile. I need to keep my eyes focused on the goals set before me and the major one is student teaching in the fall. I have a few classes I NEED to finish to reach this goal, so I can graduate by December of this year.

I love blogging and I love my blogging family, but I have to concentrate on other things right now. I am not falling by the wayside. I will be keeping up with your blogs, just not mine.

Feel free to email me anytime at melissaj.black@yahoo.com

For all of you in your final traning for the AZIM kick some booty out there on the course. I wish I could be there cheering you on.