Nuthin’ but an H thang, Baybay…

Drink umbrellas are the best kind of umbrellas.

Originally uploaded by Pookareena

With sad hearts, we returned home from Kauai last weekend.

This year, we had a total of 10 travelers in our party including: AdamV, Dena, Chrissy, Justin, Rich & Joy (Justin’s parents), Brandon, Michael, AdamK and me. When we bought our Marriott timeshare in 2005, I imagined how fun it’d be to mingle different activities with a variety of friends/family…and now those thoughts have come to fruition!

Here are a few highlights:

We laid around in the hot sun a lot. It was warmer than usual in Kauai this year, so we took great advantage of the beaches and pools…and blended drinks.

AdamK, Dena and I hit up the Farmers Market. We found delightfully fresh fruit and veggies there which contributed to a couple of lovely meals. AdamK picked up some fish from the local market and made an amazing orange sauce to complement his work on the grill.

I nearly died. Okay, perhaps that’s a little overly dramatic…but yeah, I thought I would forever be stuck in the forests of the Napali Coast. Chrissy and I decided we needed to hike the Kalalau Trail, so we dragged AdamV, Dena, Justin, Michael and Brandon with us. It was a nightmarish combination of climbing boulders straight up into the sky, maneuvering slippery, unstable surfaces, avoiding hoards of fire ants…and once in awhile, there was a flat trail. It was the roughest hike I’ve ever attempted and one I won’t attempt again soon. We got to see Hanakapi’ai Beach, which was cool, but the hike back was brutal. Michael and Brandon took turns waiting for me to catch my breath (Michael & Justin even carried my heavy backpack!) while AdamV made sure I had water when needed – they were awesome. I was in shock for awhile after the 4-mile trek, and even the cold water on Ke’e Beach couldn’t completely shake me back into reality. I don’t like to admit defeat, but the thought that I could hike this aggressive trail in the shape I’m in was…dumb.

I enjoyed my very first helicopter ride. Six of us toured the island and got to see the most beautiful, untouched areas of Kauai. Amazingly tall waterfalls, rugged, tree-lined mountain peaks, hidden beaches…it was breathtaking. I’m still processing the photos, but the stunning images will never leave my mind.

We toured Waimea Canyon with AdamV and Dena. Waimea is always impressive and it was fun to show it off again. We tried to make it to the Kalalau Valley lookout in Kokee Park, but the fog was so dense we had to turn back. That evening, we ended up at the Waimea Brewing Company for dinner/beer and found the rest of the group already there! After eating, we all checked out the black sand beach on the property, but we were more impressed with the enormous trees in the area.

The entire group attended the Smith Family Luau. Adam & I both liked this luau far better than last year’s at Kilohana Plantation. The grounds were magnificent: Japanese gardens, ponds and ornate bridges, a huge variety of animals frolicking about, open air dining hall and lots more. They had an open bar (Kilohana didn’t) and the food…just ask me, I could rave about the food all day. It was the best pork I have ever eaten, hands down. The show after dinner was engaging and fun. They performed traditional dances from Hawaiian “cousins”, such as Samoa, Tahiti, New Zealand, etc.

It was a beautiful vacation, even if the Napali Coast won this round.

Last year, I lost about 15 pounds after a lot of hard work in the gym. I had tons of stamina, was able to sleep 100x better, fit into more clothes…it was FAB. However, I cut way back on exercise in 2009. At the rate I was going, I simply could not sustain it long term. Plus, I didn’t pay close attention to my diet this year. It’s not that I paid no attention or went crazy with my food choices, I just didn’t monitor it like I had been in ‘08. Anyway, the long and short of it is that all the weight came back and I feel out-of-shape once again.

I think my trouble is finding balance in maintenance. When it comes to getting healthy, I’m all in. Once I achieve my goals, I try to get to a balanced place with my food intake and realistic exercise intervals. But this is where I fail. Don’t get me wrong, weight loss isn’t my primary goal. I really only should lose about 20-25 pounds from where I am now. My main objective is to not feel like crap! I want to run up a flight of stairs without feeling completely out of breath, or hike into the woods to take photos without feeling exhausted. I need to feel good physically to combat stress, period. Being a size 8 versus a size 12 is only a bonus.

So I guess I’m starting over. It’s always a challenge to get rid of the pounds, but my bigger challenge will be to keep up a good balance of diet and exercise. In 2008, I learned a lot about exercise: what I like, what I don’t, how not to hurt myself, how to combine cardio with weight-training and a lot more. I’m confident that I can find balance in the exercise department with a little work. I’m worried about my diet though. I love sugar&butter&cheese&carbs-ohmy! Not only that, but I’m a horrible cook. When it falls to me to “make a meal” for myself, I prepare whatever’s easy: popcorn, mac & cheese, cheese & crackers, etc. Adam has taken most of the responsibility for cooking (which is awesome because he’s so good at it!) but I need to have more of that role so that I’m prepared for times when I’m by myself. Maybe, at age 33, I can finally learn how to cook/prepare something healthy and tasty…without burning my meal, myself or my house. It’s a good thing we have insurance.

October is normally a pretty good month. The weather’s still tolerable, the landscape gets more beautiful with the turning leaves, we normally take a vacation, my wedding anniversary arrives, Halloween is always great fun…it has a lot going for it. However, my brain decided to start October 1st at 3am. I’m stressed out, there’s no doubt about it. I’ve said it repeatedly, I know, but Kauai can’t come soon enough.

For the last week, I’ve been dealing with a cold. Yeah, I did end up catching a bug as I predicted – but not a flu-bug, just a cold. Last weekend was either a waste or a godsend, however you choose to look at it. I camped out in bed, coughing, sneezing and sleeping the entire time. I did almost nothing of value or interest, but maybe I just needed the sleep. Adam has outdone himself in the husbandry department: he bought me a get well card, made me chicken noodle soup (from scratch!) and pretty much waited on me hand and foot. And just yesterday, he brought me 2 lovely bouquets of flowers. He’s mighty-good.

Well, this afternoon should be interesting because ALL afternoons are interesting after a 3am rising. Do they still sell Vivarin?

I’m starting to get the impression that I’m destined to catch one of the rampant office bugs flying around. Everyone is sick…or their kids are sick…or their pets are sick! Three out of 5 people I normally have lunch with have been or are sick, including my BFF.

I worked from home yesterday just to get away from the office, which was great. This morning I returned to work on a joint project with another sales rep only to find he was sick too – Ugh! I made him sit at the other end of the conference table from me, ‘cuz I’m mean.

As for preventative measures, I’ve been washing and sanitizing my hands like crazy. No Echinacea, Airborne, Zicam or any of that yet, but the writing’s on the wall. Really, I just want to avoid getting sick for Kauai, which is coming up soon. After that, go ahead – sneeze on me, cough on me, I’ll deal with it. Just not nooooooooow *whine*

IMG_3754

Originally uploaded by madaracs

Last week, Adam and I were lucky enough to meet one of our favorite bands: the Pet Shop Boys. We started off by mingling in the lobby of the State Theater with 30 other PSB fans, comparing which songs we love the most and who saw them where and when. Then, in an instant, Adam and I were summoned to meet Chris and Neil – we even dragged a fellow fan with us because he was nervous to go in alone. They shook our hands, signed our VIP passes and autographed Adam’s favorite CD. We exchanged a few niceties and moved on so they could greet more fans. What a fun experience! *gush*

We had plenty of time between the Meet & Greet and the actual show, so we bellied up to the bar at Capital Grille. That’s where we ran into a larger-than-life top Minnesota attorney who shall remain nameless. Where is this going? That’s exactly what we were wondering…this poor guy was inebriated and broken and anxious to talk to someone. Oh, he was jovial and funny as we compared favorite TV shows and such, but then he dropped a bomb: he apparently just left his wife, so recently that his kids don’t know about it. We chatted for a few moments longer, he insisted on buying our drinks and then he left. He reminded me of a sad clown, only he was wearing a $1,000 suit and was far less creepy…poor thing. Soon, we were ushered to our table in the dining room. I ordered the Oscar Filet (thanks, Skip!) and just about died because it was so delicious. It was a fabulous, decadent supper.

Our seats were truly in the first row, but there were Orchestra Pit seats wedged in front of us. At first I was bummed, but later, I was grateful because we had a better view than those who were basically on top of the stage. I was very impressed with the show itself. They played nearly everything I could have asked for! I danced and danced and screamed and yelled and enjoyed every last drop of that concert. Adam nabbed several excellent photos (as featured here!), but thankfully none show my antics.

Other mentionables: the sound was perfect, the dancers really got (and kept) the crowd going, the cubed sets were fun to watch and versatile enough to create new and interesting backdrops, Neil really played to the crowd and Chris even busted a move with the dancers on New York City Boy. Truly a highlight of 2009.

Published September 19 2009, Duluth News Tribune
After car accident, Duluth woman says, ‘It’s a miracle I’m alive’
Everything feels different for the Duluth’s Bonnie Dressen since a traumatic car accident in June put her in a coma. Her injuries were severe and perhaps should have taken her life. “It’s really a miracle that I’m alive,” she said. “Now I accept nothing as ordinary.”

By: Sarah Horner, Duluth News Tribune

Bonnie Dressen has always enjoyed kayaking, but now the experience of slipping her boat into Pequaywan Lake feels almost spiritual.

“I am doing it almost daily,” Dressen, 61, said. “It is the closest I am to God.”

Everything feels different for the Duluth woman since a traumatic car accident in June put her in a coma. Her injuries were severe and perhaps should have taken her life.

“It’s really a miracle that I’m alive,” she said. “Now I accept nothing as ordinary.”

The miracle, Dressen said, is that three random strangers equipped with just the right tools were there to help her. One was Jennifer Helland, a registered nurse in the Neurological Trauma Unit at St. Mary’s Medical Center who happened to be driving behind the car that hit Dressen. Another was Jeffrey Beck, the driver behind Dressen who knew that first responder A.J. Marshall was working at the nearby Lakewood One Stop and ran to get him.

“It was like everyone I needed was somehow right there,” Dressen said.

Despite having two young daughters in her car, Helland pulled over to help. When she noticed Dressen was having trouble breathing, the nurse realigned her airway. Then Marshall hooked her up to the oxygen supply he brought from the convenience store.

They waited 20 minutes for the ambulance to arrive.

“That would have been too long,” said Dressen, a nurse herself. “I really don’t think I would be alive today if Jennifer hadn’t opened up my airway; and if A.J.

hadn’t gotten that oxygen to my brain, I’d probably be brain-dead.”

Instead, Dressen made it to the hospital, where she remained in a coma for five days. The accident caused trauma to her head and created a blood clot and swelling in her brain. Her left eye was swollen shut and an ankle and rib were broken. She remained in the hospital for two weeks and underwent four surgeries.

When she was allowed to leave she suffered from walking amnesia and needed to attend daily rehabilitation.

It wasn’t until August that Dressen started feeling like herself again.

“It was a stinky thing for a long time, but it could have killed me if it weren’t for those people,” Dressen said. “I owe them thanks from the absolute bottom of my heart. I feel they saved my life. That was courage and empathy and goodness for them to do what they did.”

She got to thank Marshall with a hug Thursday afternoon.

“I love seeing her the way she is, so healthy and up and walking around,” said Marshall, a first responder with the Normanna Fire Department. “It’s pretty impressive that she’s healed so quickly.”

Marshall said he doesn’t think his efforts that day were heroic.

“I was just doing my job,” he said. “I was glad I was able to help someone out and make a friend out of the deal.”

Helland saw Dressen in the hospital immediately after the accident and later received a bouquet of roses from Dressen. She said it’s overwhelming to be credited with saving her life.

“Who knows what would have happened,” Helland said. “I am just glad that the other gentleman and I were there that day. I have heard that [Dressen] is a very vibrant gal, and I’m just glad she’s OK.”

Their modesty doesn’t change who they are to Dressen, though.

“They are heroes,” she said.

Dressen’s husband, Doug, agrees. When asked what it meant to have his wife healthy and home again after coming so close to losing her, he had trouble speaking.

“You don’t put that in words,” he said. “You make movies of that.”

This morning, Garet decided to try to get me out of bed to drop some food in his dish…at 5:30am. His method of choice is to jump up on my dresser and nudge the window blinds with his snout. He knows that the slight banging of the blinds against the window pane wakes me from my slumber, and this time was no different. I checked the clock and boy, was I mad. I have a spray bottle tucked behind my bedside table for just this occasion, and at 5:30 this morning, I began to fumble around for it. As soon as my hand felt the nozzle, I pulled it up from its hiding place, aimed in Garet’s general direction and shot with my thumb on the trigger. At that moment, a blast of cool water hit me right in the forehead…in my zeal for punishing the naughty kitty, I’d apparently had the spray bottle pointing at my face.

I heard Garet jump down from the dresser and run from the room.

This is my favorite part of Gremlins.

On a weekly basis, I have to complete a report for my boss called a “DealTracker”. Every time someone mentions “DealTracker,” I am reminded of the Gremlins torturing mean ole Mrs. Deagle. Oh, I’m sure it has something to do with “deal” and “Deagle”…and the fact that I simply don’t enjoy filling out reports.

My brand of humor is SO not appreciated.

In the last few weeks, we’ve had a lot of expensive shenanigans going on. First, our water heater began a slow leak – from the top of the unit! Plus, it’s only about 8 years old, so I’m not sure what’s up with that. Then, we ended up with an unplanned purchase at the State Fair: an 8-person hot tub from CalSpa. I’m not complaining…but the timing of our decision impulse purchase wasn’t the best. Finally, our 2 year old washing machine has gone kaput. If I wash one more load in it, I’m certain the guts of the machine will fly out the back and water will drool all over the floor. We have a new one coming tomorrow.

The moral? I need to go sell something, like now.

**create your own personalized map of the USA**

Next spring, I’m hoping to travel to Mississippi with my Daddio. It’d be nice to meet (or re-meet, since I could have met some at a young age) a few of my relatives on his side of the family and see where he grew up. Other states I have a hankering to see for the first time are: Maine, Oregon and South Carolina. Plus, there are some states that I’ve visited but would like to return to so that I can experience new places within them: California (Redwood National Park, Napa, San Francisco, Yosemite), Arizona (Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon), Massachusetts (Boston, I’ve only been there on business and Adam wants to show me around), Hawaii (everywhere), Wyoming (Yellowstone National Park), Florida (Tampa Bay Bucs stadium, Key West).

As for the greater map of the world, my travel experience is limited. Sure, I’ve been to Canada and Mexico plenty…and I got to see a tiny bit of Amsterdam and a lot of Italy in 2007. But I’m dying to see: Paris, London, Hong Kong, Beijing (The Great Wall), Cairo (Pyramids), Tokyo, St. Lucia, Prague, Rio de Janeiro, Greece, Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Taj Mahal-New Delhi-Nepal and lots more. In retrospect, I should have started this list at a younger age…