Sweaty Feet

Ummmm, yeah.  I AM going there tonight.  I want to talk about sweaty feet.

Am I the only person whose feet get awfully sweaty in the summer?  But only when wearing summer sandal type shoes with a heel?

I have the hardest time wearing a pair of open toed shoes (sandals) with heels for fear of my feet sliding around from the sweat.  This isn’t always a problem for me, but it happens more often than not.

What am I doing wrong?  I wash my feet everyday.  The don’t stink all that bad.  I’m not overly abusive to my feet.  What f’ing gives?

I don’t EVER see anyone else having issues walking in their heels due to slippery, slidey, sweaty feet.  Except for me. 

I gave up on yoga for this same exact reason.  Sweaty feet.  The few times I tried taking a class, my hands and feet would sweat and I would find myself sliding and no longer in the pose that was originally intended.  Definitely not relaxing.  So I quit.

I wish I knew how to fix this.  But I don’t.  I hate walking around, looking like an idiot because my feet are sliding around in my shoes.  And, I only really have a problem when I wear heels.

In fact, even tonight, after my haircut, I was sitting around talking to my hairstylist and I finally had to tell her I was leaving because my feet hurt SO FRIGGIN’ BAD because my feet were sliding down further in my shoe than they normally do because they were sweaty and the straps were diggin’ into my toes and sides of my foot.

In the winter, I sprinkle baby powder in my shoes to help absorb any sweat and smell.  But I can’t really do that with open toed, sandal shoes. 

I’m at a loss.  What do I do?  I have tons of cute summer work shoes.  Am I supposed to give them all up and put my feet into winter shoes?  That would be awful.  I can’t even imagine.  I love me some cute summer sandals.  So what’s a girl to do?  Any suggestions?

Am I REALLY the only person with this problem?  Please tell me I’m not!

JFC

This morning, I received an email letting me know that the pictures from the Danskin Triathlon are now available to view.

My first thought?  Dear God, do I really look like that in real life?

Seriously, Operation Loose Weight is going into high gear tomorrow.  WHAT?  I already spoiled today with the blueberry muffin, bacon and latte I had for breakfast.

How is it that when I look in the mirror, I see something completely different than what I see in these pictures? 

what looks like determination is really me focusing on not falling over from sheer exhaustion

WTF…stupid camera!  Why can’t you make it look like I’m 10 pounds LIGHTER and not 10 pounds heavier?

Sigh…at least I’m not as fat as I looked and was in the pictures 2 years ago.  That year I looked ridiculously stupid and fat. 

I guess, if nothing else, this is just sheer motivation for me and I intend to use these pictures as such.

Hopefully, when I do the Danskin next year WHAT?  I warned you that I probably would, even though I swore I wouldn’t I’ll look smokin’ hot and won’t have to worry about my flabby gut or feeling too self concious to wear just my bathing suit to swim.

So the next time I whine that I want something to eat that is incredibly fattening and bad for me?  Please refer me back to these pictures.  kthxbai.

Oops I did it again…

Oops I did it again
I played with your heart
Got lost in the game
Oh, baby baby
Oops you think I’m in love
That I’m sent from above…I’m not that innocent

Oh, sorry.  I’ll quit with the Britney.  It just seemed so fitting.

I think I committed to doing another sprint triathlon yesterday.

I was pretty excited until I started checking out the times of the people that did it last year and well, umm, I definitely wouldn’t be finishing in the top 50%.  I think I’ll be lucky to finish in the top 85%.  Sigh.

I probably need to get over this need to rank high among everyone I’m doing it with, right?

I’ll definitely know more tomorrow after spin class though since I’m doing it with a friend from my spin class and my spin instructor. 

Maybe they’ll forget that I said I was doing it with them?

Not that I’m braggin’

Well, okay, maybe I’m bragging…but whatever.  It’s my f’ing blog so I can brag if I want to.

This morning, I completed the Chicagoland Danksin Triathlon.  It sucked and was awesome, all rolled into one (try figuring that one out!).

I was a fucking basket case.  No joke.  It was awful.  I was even shaking, and not from the cold temperatures or the wind!

But then my extremely wonderful husband (Jay, save this for future reference for when I’m not so happy with you!) sought us out before we even started our swim and it was so cool to see him before heading into the water.  It brought tears to my eyes and meant that much to me.

Despite the fears and issues I vocalized in a previous entry, you definitely didn’t see me crying at the finish line!  I beat my overall time from my best year-to-date by 5 minutes and 7 seconds.  wOOt!

Unfortunately, none of that was due my awesome swimming or biking abilities.

My swim time was 18 seconds worse than my best time and that was due to the women who were not overly strong swimmers and kept moving in the same direction I was trying to move to in order to avoid their slow asses.  At one point, I was getting sandwiched between to women and I, obviously, was bumping into one of them.  Do you know what that fucking bitch did?  As soon as we were away from the sucky swimmer, she practically pounced on me and I went under the water.  WTF?  People drown that way bitch.  I only wish I had seen what number she was because I would have kicked the living shit out of her after it was all over.

My bike time was 12 seconds worse than my best time ever and I’m not that upset because it was windy out and it got SUPER windy when I had approximately 1/3 of the way to go.  Trying to go up 2 super steep hills with wind pushing you the opposite direction is NOT fun.  When you go down said hill, you should not have to pedal and should be able to coast.  Not the case today.

My first transition time was AWFUL this year though (going from swimming to biking).  It was up 57 seconds from my best time ever.  I don’t know what I did differently besides for take 2 puffs on my albuterol inhaler and take 4-ibuprofen’s 

 

The truly impressive part, IMO, is my run time.  My run time improved 6 minutes and 23 seconds from my best time ever!  Holy wow, that’s incredible, and I’m even giving myself a pat on the back for that one!

Overall, I finished in the top 41% of EVERYONE and my second best finish was 64%.  That’s a pretty good improvement if I might say so myself.  Either that or, we had a bunch of suck-ass people doing it this year.  But, I’m sticking with the improvement rationale, much more favorable.

And now, a few beers later (YES, I desperately craved a beer afterwards), I’m pretty buzzed and am off to take a nap.

Tootaloo for now.

WHEEEEEEE

I’m so lame (hence the title of this blog)…My last blog was 924 words.  The longest entry I’ve EVER had.

And that, of course, is cause for a blog entry.

That is all.

“D”-Day

Sunday will be the 3rd time in 4 years that I will be doing the Danskin Triathlon.  I took last year off but did it in 2005, 2006 and now 2008.

I’m scared, nervous, excited, anxious, apprehensive, worried and giddy.  All at the same time.  It’s slightly bizarre to have all those feelings rambling around.

In 2005, I was really nervous and couldn’t believe that I signed up to do it.  I was in great shape, working out all the time and doing a ton of weight training.  To my pleasant surprise, I did great!  I was extremely pleased with how I finished.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, of course I would have liked to do better, but I wasn’t unhappy with how I finished. 

In 2006, I was struggling with some lower back issues.  And that obviously affected my training which affected how well I did.  At one point, I couldn’t even run a 1/4 mile without my lower back knotting up causing me great discomfort.  I worked with a chiropractor which helped a bit but I wasn’t at 100% so my training suffered.  I was not ready or even somewhat prepared and it showed in how I finished.  I was not happy with my results.  The entire triathlon was an uphill struggle for me.  My back started aching with the swim, the 20+ mile an hour winds kicked my ass when I was biking which only made my back ache worse because I had to use more power with each pedal stroke and when running walking, running, whateverI narrowly avoided an asthma attack until I crossed the finish line and then I couldn’t get to my Albuterol Inhaler fast enough.  After that, I vowed that I was done and wouldn’t sign up for another one.

And yet here I am.  Nervous, excited, giddy, scared and anxious for Sunday to come and go.  ‘Cause I’m a dumbassdoing the Danksin once again.

I have been training.  But has it been enough? 

I’m concerned that I focused too much on cardio and not enough on strength.  In fact, I’ve hardly incorporated any strength training into my workouts with the exception of the Body Pump class I started 4 weeks ago and the 350-400 push ups I did over a period of 7 or 8 days, which was weeks ago.

Sigh.

I’m such an idiot. 

I knew that I needed to do more strength training but I HATE weight machines.  And I can’t afford to hire a personal trainer.  I suppose I could have done more Body Pump classes but I’m truly not impressed with the class so why spend the money, ’cause those classes aren’t cheap, YO. 

Hell, I could have, should have, climbed into the pool a bit more.  I think I’ve seen the chlorinated water 3 times in the last 3-4 weeks.  Definitely not enough.

So here I sit, freaking out about Sunday.  And it probably wouldn’t be so bad if my only goal were to finish.  But its not.  I will be HUGELY disappointed in myself if I can’t beat my time from 2005. 

I’m hoping that my adrenaline will kick in high speed and propel me through the water.  Which is the part that I’m most worried about and is really quite surprising considering that I’m pretty sure that I was a fish in a past life.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m concerned about the biking and running part, but I’ve been doing those spin classes and running pretty consistently since January.  So, I think hope that I’ll be okay with the biking and running but I can’t say for sure.  I did a run through of the bike course last Monday with a friend and it was a LOT more difficult than I remember.  Harder than my 45 minute spin class and I really push myself hard in that class.  But, it was extremely humid out and my asthma wasn’t “playing nice” so maybe that was a factor.  I dunno.

I’m just a mess. 

And I can’t even calm my nerves tomorrow night with a couple 10 beers because drinking before the triathlon is a big no-no.

I really want it to be Monday so I can say “Oh, the Danskin?  Yeah, I did that yesterday and I kicked ass!”

Big dreams?  Maybe.  But you have to dream big to acheive those dreams, right? 

Sigh.  Can you tell I’m trying to pump myself up?  I guess what I’m really hoping for is that at approximately 11:00am on Sunday, I can relish in the glory that I ROCKED the Danskin.

However, if you see a girl crying, all sweaty after crossing the finish line, in green shorts and a black tank, that will be me and you will know that it took me longer than 1 hour, 51 minutes and 17 seconds not that I’m obsessed or have a spreadsheet filled with the results from the previous 2 times I’ve done the Danskin or anything to finish.  After which, I’ll probably become extremely pouty and require excess beer and pizza to feel better about myself.  I might even vow to never do the Danskin again.  But, we all know how that story ends…

But, at the end of the day, even if I suck it BIG TIME, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is the official charity of the Danskin and I know that my $85 entry fee is helping to fund a cause that could benefit a lot of women.

Plus, I’ll get a new tank top and medal to add to my collection.

And now that I’m maybe done whining and rambling, I’d like to give a shout out to my fellow Danskin Triathletes – Jenica, Kori and Badgergirl.  Good Luck, Congratulations and I hope you do as well as you’d like to!  See you at the finish line.

Train Wrecks

No, I’m not going to write about actual train wrecks.  I’m not that morbid.  And besides, what would be the point?

Has anyone seen that new reality show on VH1 called I Love Money?

Per VH1’s website:  VH1 presents the new television series “I Love Money” where 15 wildly popular cast members from the “of Love” series get the chance to battle it out for what they wanted all along, fame and money! Last time these cast members competed it was for the heart of Bret, New York, or Flavor Flav, but this time its for $250,000 cash!

If you thought Flavor of Love, I love New York or Rock of Love were great shows, just wait till you see this one!  

I couldn’t stop laughing.  Seriously.  I think the casting director took the absolute dumbest and most controversial people and threw them into this show.

Have you ever driven by a really bad car accident and know you should look away but can’t?  That’s what this show is like!  But better or is it worse?.

The cast includes:

From the Rock of Love Series - Meghan, Heather, Destiny, Brandi C, and Rodeo

From the I Love New York Series - Real, Chance, Heat, Midget Mack, Mr. Boston, 12 Pack, White Boy and The Entertainer

From the Flavor of Love Series- Pumpkin, Hoopz, Nibblez and Toastee

I didn’t really follow Flavor of Love or I Love New York but I was an avid watcher of Rock of Love and when you add Heather and Meghan to the cast of any show, you  know it’s going to be wild and out of control.

FCOL, when asked what she would do with the $250,000 if she were to win, Meghan replied that she would adopt more mentally retarded dogs – she wants to raise awareness for the mental retardation of canines.   WHAT!?!  How can that shit not be funny?

All the contestants were given a black bikini to wear (both men and women) and they will take turns going into a money booth.  The 2 people who collect the most money will win and become team captains and get to choose their teams.  The one rule?  You can’t grab the money off the floor. 

I bet you can guess what happens next…YUP.  Blond geniuses Meghan and Brandi C do exactly that and get disqualified.  Seriously?  You were just told that was the one rule.  Are you really that friggin’ dumb?

And then there is Mr. Boston.  Mr. Boston admits that he’s ”not that big down there” and decides to stuff his bikini bottoms with lots of toilet paper.  This of course is before he knows about the challenge.  Before entering the booth, he unstuffs himself to make more room and accidentally lets a little something no pun intendedslip.  EWWWW.

Then, as it comes down to the final 3 to be picked for a team. Brandi C, Nibblez and Midget Mac are left.  It’s a given that Midget Mac is going home since he refused to put on the bikini thank god cause no one needed to see that!.  However neither team captain really wanted Nibblez or Brandi C so Hoopz (one of the team captains) told the girls to do 10 push ups and that is how she’ll decide who to pick.  Brandi C does 10 of the most jacked up push ups I’ve ever seen and then proceeds to sprain her ankle.  HUH?  Who sprains their ankle doing push ups?  Needless to say, Hoopz picked Nibblez.

This is some of the best reality TV I’ve ever watched and I can imagine that it will only get better.  It is a train wreck in the making. 

If you even remotely love trashy reality TV, then this is one bandwagon you NEED to jump on because reality tv doesn’t get much better than this.  And really?  There’s nothing on TV in the summer anyways so you know you have nothing better to watch.

Not feelin very 4′th of July’ish

There.  I said it.  I’m not feeling very 4th of July’ish.

I don’t know whats wrong with me.  I normally LOVE this holiday. 

In my opinion, this is the best holiday of the year.  It’s warm out, everyone is celebrating and having a good time, people are in a good mood, etc.  I always look forward to the 4th.

And today?  I don’t really feel like doing much of anything.  Wait, I lie.  I want to lie in my bed, watch TV and veg out all day.  That’s doing something, right?

Sigh.

I don’t even feel like going out tonight to watch the fireworks.  WTF?  I LOVE fireworks.  The loud booms, the pretty colors, the people oohhhing and agghhing.  I live for that shit.  I usually look forward to this every year, but this one.

I’m sure this has to do with the funk I’ve been in lately.  Just ask my coworkers or husband.  I have not been very pleasant to be around.  I feel myself slowly pulling out of it, but not fast enough.  I’m going on approximately day 8 of this.  And I don’t like feeling like this.  I’m normally a pretty happy go lucky person.  I won’t lie, I do get annoyed easily but I tend to get over it quickly (if I like you.  If not, forget it.  You’re screwed).  But these last 8 days?  I feel like every little thing that anyone does is about to make me jump out of my skin.  I don’t think I even said more than 20 words to Jay last week because when I did talk to him, I was snippy.  I’m trying to actually listen to what my mom taught me and “Don’t say anything at all if you have nothing nice to say”.

It doesn’t help either that Jay is in a mellow mood today as well.  As I type, he is napping on the couch and I contemplate going to spend money even though I’m on a self inflicted spending freeze.

I hope that he drags my sullen ass to the fireworks tonight though.  I feel like that will help run this mood out of me.

Truly, though. I  think I blame my brother for my 4th of July funk.  The jerk’s birthday is on July 3rd and we always-always have a party or go bar hopping (as we did last year for his 21st birthday) on the 3rd or 4th to kick off the 4th of July   This year though, the jerkface is in Arizona.  So, it’s his fault I don’t feel like doing anything.

Aaron.  I blame you.  It’s all your fault.

But then again, you’re probably used to it because I guess that’s not much different from how it was growing up, ‘eh?  Smooches, I love you. 

So, even while in my anti-4th mood and all, I want to wish everyone a wonderful, fun and SAFE Happy 4th of July! 

Oh, and Happy Birthday America!

Hi Nodrog — I see you!

My very good friend Nodrog (Gordon spelled backwards) has finally entered the blogging world so I’m sending him a shout out. 

Please check him out here.  Also feel free to harrass him to switch to a WordPress Blog. 

Now I’m waiting for him to join Twitter.

 

Drunken Ramblings

Last night we had a party at our house, which I’ll write more about (and post pictures) later but one of the best comments was “I’m going to hug you and I can get away with it because you think I’m drunk even though I am not but you think I’m drunk so you’ll let me.  But I’m not drunk”.

Ummm, yeah.  I made that comment.  And I was drunk thanks to the Three Olives Grape Vodka.