Monthly Archives: October 2010

24 October 2010

Accidents, Pain and Life

By Nicki

A warning in advance:  this may be too much information for some people.  It is also long.  Not sure why it is long, though.

 

For those of you who do not know, I had a little accident about ten days ago – eleven days to be precise.  Previously, my oldest and I had gone apple picking.  I had 37 pounds of apples in my house so when I saw a cinnamon apple chip recipe somewhere, I tried it.  The first time, the chips were not only extremely delicious but there were no incidents.  So, on a particular Wed, after a 5:45 am swim, a run to kick boxing and 8 am kick boxing, I decided to haul out the mandolin slicer and make some more apple chips.  Truthfully, no one was home and I actually wanted to get some this time.  I didn’t much chance to test taste the first batch.

 

I should have really thought through using something like a mandolin without anyone else at home.  I had used it before and had no troubles so figured I was good.  I started out slicing apples.  The first indication that this was not going to go like the first time was that my apple slices were thicker.  I did not know why at the time.  I finally figured it out but that was part of the problem in the end.  I looked down and had cut the heel of my hand.  The cut was clean and not too deep.  I washed my hand off and kept cutting.  I know – a slightly more pragmatic person would have stopped right there.  I didn’t have a full cookie sheet of apple slices yet.  No stopping me.

 

Then, I sliced into two fingers.  These did not stop bleeding as easily as the heel of my hand did.  I washed my hand with soap and water.  I could not tell if the cuts were deep or not.  I wrapped my hand up in a dish towel, hoping the pressure would stop the bleeding.  I used my left hand to put the cinnamon on the apple slices and put them in the oven.  The bleeding had yet to stop so I wrapped the fingers in gauze and decided to jump in the shower.  If I was going to need stitches, I had yet to shower from all my exercising so I should be slightly less smelly.  I held my right hand – have I ever told you I am right handed? – above my head as I showered quickly.  Still, the bleeding had not stopped.

 

I decided then and there that I was going to need at least a stitch or two.  I did not have a car at home so I started calling friends I know that either do not work during the day or work retail and may have been home.  I could call a cab but figured it would be easier if I got a ride to the walk-in.  My friend Jen came through and picked me up for the just over four mile – yes, it is a route I have run in the past – trip to the walk-in.  I had to spend a good part of the four mile trip convincing Jen she didn’t need to stay with me at the walk-in.  She agreed finally if I promised to call if my daughter was not done working when I finished.  She did not want me walking home from the walk in.

 

Well, let me tell you cold and flu season must be in full swing early this year.  First, the walk-in was short-handed due to illness.  Second, the walk-in was packed with sick people.  This is one of my biggest reasons for not going to the doctor’s office in the winter/cold-flu season.  I don’t like being around all those germs.

 

Second thing to tell you is that tetanus shots hurt.  I could not come close to telling the walk-in doctor the last time I had a tetanus shot.  Most likely, it was some time near the birth of my last child who is now 16.  Anyway you look at it, I was due for a tetanus shot.  My arm, over the course of the next few days, actually hurt more than my hand did at times.

 

Anyway, I need more than a stitch or two.  I had two stitches in a knuckle on my middle/third finger.  I had four stitches in the knuckle on my pinky/fifth finger.  There is also a spot near the nail on my middle finger that had had the top layer of skin taken off by the mandolin that could not be stitched.

 

I am amazed at the things I use my pinky finger for in life.  Typing became painful.  I actually use all ten digits on my hands for typing.  I was forced to hunt and peck with my right hand and that was a problem for me.  Also, hitting the shift key or the enter key with my right hand pinky hurt.  There was also the joy of not being able to get my right hand totally wet.  You see, the stitches I had were the old kind that would have to be taken out after ten days.  They were not to get wet – as best as possible.

 

The hand hurt for a while.  The antibiotic I was given – just in case – was ugly in side effects.  The bigger issue is all the things that I do with my right hand that I don’t realize.  Did the injury stop me?  Yes, in some ways.  I did not run the half marathon I wanted to run last Sunday.  I ran a 5K instead.  I had to stop swimming mornings for ten days but am headed back to the pool tomorrow morning.

 

The moral of my story – Use the guard on your mandolin.  See a doctor when necessary.  Don’t let something small – a little pain or an injury – stop you from living life.

16 comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Food and Recipes, Just my Thoughts

18 October 2010

TCBGC River Run – Race Recap

By Nicki

I wish I had been in the taking photos mood.  I did head to the race location early with photos in mind but decided to forego the photos as soon as I realized I had missed calls from home on the drive, the 20 minute drive, to the race site.  I have posted many times, since the summer of 2009 and my 30th high school reunion, about going home.  This race was to support the Tioga County Boys’ and Girls’ Club which is in my hometown of Owego, New York.  On top of supporting a great cause, I could choose between a 5K and a 10K distance.  Let me just say, in advance, I had had my heart set on running the Leaf Peeper Half Marathon on this date but an injury to my hand prevented it.  No, I don’t run on my hands but the throbbing that running causes prevented running 13.1 miles.  Consequently, I ran the 5K in Owego.

 

The 10K course took runners out of the Hickories Park and into town.  They then crossed the bridge at Front Street heading over to NYS Route 434.  Front Street is on the north side of the Susquehanna River and Route 434 is on the south side.  The 10K course went up to the eastern end of town and crossed the bridge near Lockheed Martin and back into the park.  I may go down some day and run this but for right now am happy I chose to run the 5K yesterday.

 

The 5K run stayed totally in the Hickories Park.  Yes, some of it was on grass.  Some of it was on unpaved road.  It was a combination of surfaces.  I thought it was a great course, though my Forerunner – yes, I cannot seem to run without it now I have one – told me it was 3.27 miles, not the 3.1 a 5K should be.  I did look at my time at 5K and it was a PR.  I was not unhappy with the course or with the different surfaces.  I love the area that the race took!  I loved running along the Susquehanna River.  I have memories of this park as a child.  While I also have memories of the 10K route, I am glad I ran this route and that it brought back memories.

 

The race was made extra special by seeing friends.  These friends were old friends – classmates from high school that I do not see all that often, new friends – those I usually only see at races.  It was a wonderful run with all these people!!  Hope we do not have to wait until the next race to see each other.

12 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Fitness, Just my Thoughts

16 October 2010

Wineglass Marathon

By Nicki

Very few words as I am typing with fewer fingers than normal – story for another day.  Here are my photos from the 2010 Wineglass Marathon.  Sorry John, Chris and Mike – I didn’t see you all out there on the road.  Also wish I could have noticed Claire from the front but having never met her, I got several shots of her butt – but a now BQ’d butt.  Also wish I could have gotten Steve and Steve together at the beginning.  The slideshow is about 1/3 of the photos I took starting with the expo on Sat.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , | posted in Fitness, Just my Thoughts

13 October 2010

Domestic Violence Awareness

By Nicki

October, among other things, is domestic violence awareness month.  Domestic violence is an issue that has always been on my radar.  Even in my rural or suburban neighborhoods, it is a commonly, sadly, in the headlines.  No one, though, wants to talk about this issue.  Yet, along with protected sex, in my mind, domestic violence is as important to discuss with our teenagers and our children as being safe if having sex.

 

Recently, the news was all about the trial of a former boyfriend who had eventually murder a 25 year old locally.  The trial just had me reliving the actual discovery and murder.  I do not know how families go through trials.  Today it was a headline in the Elmira paper that caught my attention.  A Bath, New York man was arrested for hitting, binding with electrical tape and choking a woman.  While the relationship between the two was not disclosed, I would bet – if I were a betting person – that it was a domestic relationship.

 

Think of this scenario.  A woman leaves her husband as he is hitting her.  When she goes to social services to get assistance, the first questions are: “can you sell your car?”  ”if you have assets – including children’s savings accounts and college savings accounts – you need to liquidate those.”  Eventually, even though mortified, she goes back time and time again.  Each time a bit of her self-esteem is taken but she does get food stamps so she can feed her children.  She does not get rent assistance or day care assistance.  He should helping pay for the day care, she is told, which would leave her money for the rent.  Would you go through this?  Would you continue to fill out forms when people are degrading you?  I am not sure what my answer would be.

 

The Allstate Foundation is trying to make a difference in the domestic violence seen this October.  While no amount of clicking on web sites can help the three women that die each day in the US due to a domestic violence incident, ClicktoEmpower.org can help raise awareness of domestic violence and provide those who wish to talk about it with talking points.  If you are sitting at a table with three friends, one of you has or will experience domestic violence.  That is 25%.  That is NOT acceptable.  Of the four of you, three know someone who has been touched by domestic violence.

 

I encourage all women to talk about domestic violence.  If you cannot talk to friends about an issue like this, make yourself knowledgeable.  Know what to do when someone you know is having issues.  Know the telltale signs.  Be willing to step up and help as it takes a lot for a woman to leave a home or a relationship that is home.

 

 

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , | posted in Family, Just my Thoughts

12 October 2010

Do We Ever Learn?

By Nicki

Here is the scenario.  A man and a woman meet.  They become good friends.  They may even be what many would consider best friends.  They pour out their hearts to each other.  Something happens to one of them and she runs to him.  In the heat of the listening, the trying to help a friend make sense of what is going on, the friendship enters a new territory.  She wants to move into a relationship with him but one with no strings.  She wants to move into a relationship that is friendship with benefits.

The with benefits portion of their relationship goes well.  He feels himself getting “too involved” but doesn’t stop the relationship or the sex.  She thinks things are great – sex without the love is empowering to her.  It builds her self-esteem.  It builds her physical stamina – not just from the sex but from exercise to help make the sex better.

Then, they part ways.  She knows he is getting too close.  She backs away, pulls back.  She doesn’t want to get really involved.  She wants things to go back to the way they were before the sex.  Can they do that?  Can he put up with seeing her with others?  Can she still talk to him about everything in  her life or is it all too complicated?

More than all those questions, what has she learned?  What has he learned?  Do we have to learn from every relationship we are in?  I think so.  I think that there are parts of my marriage that taught me wonderful lessons.  I think that the time I have invested in relationships as an adult have yielded lessons on everything from how to interact with others to how to flirt to how to live with other adults (definitely different than living with children).

What would I have thought about the above scenario?  I probably would have worried that both partners were unsure of themselves.  Both partners had low self-esteem to start.  While one partner may have seen an increase in that self-esteem, I do not think it was a permanent happening.

The honesty in the above scenario is what is important.  We all need to set out with the parameters we are willing to see in a relationship firmly in mind.  If the partner we are with is not willing to abide with what we see as the “guidelines,” most likely this partner is not for us.  Do I speak from experience?  Most assuredly.  Is this recent experience?  I wish.

4 comments   |  tags: , , | posted in Just my Thoughts

11 October 2010

Age

By Nicki

I am sitting down watching last night’s episode of ABC’s “Brothers & Sisters.”  I hate to say it but a 10 pm show is too late for me to manage to stay up and watch a full hour show.  I undoubtedly end up falling asleep and missing a good part of the show and, because I am sure I am going to stay awake, I don’t record it and have no idea what is going on.

 

This particular episode deals with one issue that is near and dear to my heart – women and aging.  There are a couple other issues going on but these two sub-plots really pulled at my brain as I was here in front of both the television and the computer this morning.

 

Nora Walker, played by actress Sally Fields, is the family matriarch.  She is a 62 year old widow who has decided to work in a flower shop to have some extra income.  I know those of you who watch the show will think that is a simplified explanation.  The full story is not important to this one issue.  Nora runs into a friend who has had some plastic surgery.  The friend convinces Nora to go to a consult with her plastic surgeon.  I realize that Sally Fields is an actress and is in good shape.  Yet, the character decides at 63 that she needs some work done.

 

Plastic surgery is major surgery.  The friend Nora Walker meets plays it off as an outpatient procedure – which it may be – and a couple weeks on the sofa with pain pills and “General Hospital.”  That is not a normal in my mind.  I have had major surgery, granted these surgeries were c-sections to deliver four of my six children, and never found it normal to lay around and pop pain pills after surgery.

 

On top of that, how many women have wrinkles?  Most of us.  We live, hopefully, full lives.  These lives include tears and laughter – which creates lines on our faces.  These lives include time spent outside – which tans us but also ages us.  Those who look like they have not lived are trying to hide something, trying to hide themselves.

 

The second issue hit even closer to home.  Sarah, Nora’s daughter who is played by Rachel Griffiths, is dating a younger man.  That in itself is not an issue.  The fact that she has not been honest about her age to Luc is the issue.  He thinks she is turning 40 and she is older than that.  She is concerned that the age difference will be a problem with the two of them.  Luc, though, has known her true age the whole time.  Another issue is that she has two children and will not be having more children.  She is not sure that this is fair to Luc.  She also worries that he will want his own children some day.  She doesn’t, until the end of the episode, discuss these concerns with Luc.

 

We, women specifically and people in general, cannot make assumptions about the way others will react and feel about circumstances.  The best thing we can do is be honest about our circumstances and let the chips fall where they may.

6 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Just my Thoughts

5 October 2010

OctoberFAST 10K Race Recap

By Nicki

Saturday, October 2 I ran my race for the month of October.  This race is run every October and, while associated with the Triple Cities Runners’ Club, it is run by BAE Systems employees in Johnson City.  This BAE group use to be a part of General Electric.  The 2010 race was the 28th running of this race but my first year participating and my first 10K.

 

The race has a 5K and a 10K option.  It starts in the lower part of Highland Park in Endwell so was actually a home race for me.  The BAE employee group made a contribution to the Wounded Warriors, US Army 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York.  Nothing like a good race supporting a good cause.

 

For my first 10K, I was happy with my time.  I finished in 1:11: 43.  This gives me an average pace of 11:33.  I know my first mile was under 10 minutes.  I know my second mile was under 11 minutes.  My third mile was under 12 minutes as were miles four and five.  Mile six was my first mile over 12 minutes but under 13 minutes.

 

I had a great time on the race.  i talked with lots of people that I knew and that I didn’t know prior to the race.  Racing near home is great as I know people who are there.  I sprinted to the finish as Kristy was there and yelling at me to finish strong.  Great race!!

3 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Fitness, Just my Thoughts

1 October 2010

October = Breast Cancer Awareness

By Nicki

The calendar says October 1st or would if I changed it from September.  My month is full to overflowing already but I am going to get back to blogging this month.  To start it all off, I want to talk about October being Breast Cancer Awareness month.

To me, October should be about falling leaves, orange and red and yellow colors, kids in costumes.  Unfortunately, October is about breast exams, pink colors, women advocating for each other.  One in eight women will be affected by breast cancer in her lifetime.  Let me tell you two stories.

The first story is a local one that did not have a good ending.  I do know some of the people involved as I went to high school with Traci Gibson’s sisters-in-law.  Traci was diagnosed with stage 3b breast cancer at the age of 31.  She had a husband and three small children.  She fought cancer until she was 38.  She died four years ago this Sunday.

Traci’s Hope was started to help those in the area I live in with costs associated with breast cancer.  Insurance, regardless of how good it is, never pays for everything.  This year, tomorrow actually, will mark the seventh annual fundraiser for Traci’s Hope.  If you live in the Southern Tier of NY, the event starts at the Hickories Park in Owego at noon.  Update: due to the rain recently received and flooding at the Hickories Park, the event will be held at the Apalachin Firemen’s Field Days land in Apalachin. Admission is $12.

My second story hits a bit more close to home.  I was somewhere between 30 and 32 when I got a phone call from a good friend.  This was quite some time ago so the exact year is a bit fuzzy for me.  I am sure the friend remembers exactly.  She wanted to let me know she was going into the hospital to have a mastectomy.  She and her husband had sought second opinions.  This was her decision.  She had been told she had breast cancer in one breast.  She was going to have both breasts removed and re-constructive surgery done all at the same time.  She had looked at the chances for re-occurrence if she only had the one breast removed.  She was not taking that chance.  She had three children and the oldest was close to 10.  That was almost 20 years ago and she is a wonderful person to this day.

So what am I saying?  I am saying be smart about your health.  Get a mammogram when your doctor says you should.  Do breast self-exams monthly.  Support those who are living with breast cancer daily.  Pray for a cure.  Run for a cure.  Donate money for a cure.

2 comments   |  tags: , , | posted in Just my Thoughts

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,834 other followers