We're Ready to Rally!

Danny completed his first-ever rally obedience event! 

The first trial I completely tanked. My dog was totally distracted and showed more interest in sniffing the floor and looking at other dogs than anything rally. We made about a million mistakes and I got a non-qualifying score, which came as no surprise. I watched another competitor, who had a larger, reactive dog, have a similarly awful run. She packed up and went home, and I could totally and completely empathize with her because I saw the similarities between us and I felt the same way she must have felt and entertained the same thoughts about going home. But I wanted to try again. 

I gradually formulated an action plan, going with my gut feelings about what my dog needed, and put some strategies in place in and out of the ring. I got Danny better acclimated to the environment and focusing on me. Now, we were ready to rally. We did a reasonable job, and scored 204 (of a possible 210). Danny took 3^rd place!  

Another Injury and a New Interest

Sometimes injuries lead us to new things. Several years ago, I trained for my first-half marathon, but an injury prevented me from even reaching the starting line. It was a heartbreaking way to end an attempt at a first half marathon. I tried cross training, adding cycling and swimming to my routine and came back to the starting line of the half-marathon a year later as a stronger athlete. Of course, we all know what the combination of swimming, cycling and running leads to: a new passion for triathlon!

This year, I got a case of runner's knee from a cycling trip, and then I proceeded to aggravate it with each big workout or event. After the season was over, I rested and proceeded to cut back and rebuild, with a particular emphasis on core exercises. Core work has always been my nemesis, and a task I approached with all the excitement of going to the dentist. I researched core exercises that would help strengthen my hip muscles and reduce the imbalances that were aggravating my knees. I've gotten into the habit of doing a few core excises after each treadmill run in the mornings and I try to get to the gym for the oh-so-exciting core workout.

Around this time at the IronGirl packet pickup and through social media, I became aware of a new yoga studio opening up. And of course I'm a sucker for a good Groupon. Who can resist a deal like $30 for 30 days of yoga? My interest was piqued.

I've never thought of myself as a "yoga person." I'm inherently a Type A personality and the only way that I can relax is to be active. Running is stress relieving. Swimming a thousand yards is very relaxing. I didn't understand how assuming a yoga tree posture was supposed to relax. Those "yoga people" all seemed to be Type B people and they seemed to be naturally relaxed.

I walked into the yoga studio resolved to keep an open mind and try it. I already had a mat and an outfit from a similar failed experiment. This beginner class was different. It was introductory, but we actually did something other than introduce ourselves, talk about our bodily injuries and try a few simple poses. I was befuddled at the sequence of the poses and the instructor noted that we would do this set in between flows. How was I supposed to remember all of this?

I turned to the Internet for research, trying to identify this sequence that I was supposed to remember. In the process, I Googled up picture after picture of yoga poses. I noted a remarkable similarity between yoga poses and the core exercises I had been doing to strengthen my hips and knees.

Here was something that involved poses that are beautiful. Athletic. Artistic. Creative. And require a strong core and upper body, particularly for some of the advanced moves. I was moving my body in new ways and strengthening my core at the same time. Better yet, the more active forms of yoga offered me the intensity and release that I needed to be relaxed at the end and to actually welcome the respite of laying down on the mat in a meditative pose.

The 30 days of yoga came to and end. But the best news was that I discovered that yoga classes are free at my fitness center. I've tried a few classes. Maybe I'll try some more, and keep researching and learning on the internet. The above warrior pose is my favorite pose so far and I really feel like a warrior when doing it. This may yet be a gift from an injury.

Iron Girl 2014

The Comeback Race

I had raced Iron Girl in 2009 and then entered graduate school that fall. At the time, I had completed several triathlons and half marathons, and although obtaining a graduate degree was a goal I’d had for 20 years, I felt conflicted at the thought of giving up multisport. A year later, I took a new job that was faster paced, that required longer hours and a longer commute both to school and home, which also slowed down the completion of my degree. It became increasingly difficult to maintain any kind of base in any sport, and I stopped and started running numerous times only to become caught up in a time vortex.

I graduated in December 2013, right around the time of Iron Girl registration, which typically sells out in a day or two. Reclaiming this part of my life was a big goal of mine and the temptation to register was overwhelming.

Getting back into shape was a slow process. Prior to graduation, I had a busy fall with work and school and was tired on many levels. It didn’t surprise me when I came down with the flu from hell which took a month out of my training and wiped out any small base I may have had. Around the end of February, my running log read, “Long road back day 1…” for a workout of less than a half-hour. I built from there, very gradually to avoid any injury.

The Great Allegheny Passage bike trip was also on my post-grad school bucket list, and although I’d been cycling, I was under-prepared for the 30 mile uphill climb at a 2 percent grade up to the continental divide, using a rented bike loaded with panniers. The first day I acquired an overuse injury or perhaps aggravated a long-ago sports injury.

Recovering from the knee injury took a bit of time, and then I reinjured the knee during a big brick on the race course two weeks prior to the race. I embarked on the weirdest taper yet. I used a combination of Advil and rest for a week, then did a swim, bike and run workout in four days followed by another three days of rest before race day.

I had a major pre-race case of nerves. I totally freaked out on the run workout when I still felt the ache in my knee come and go and wondered if I should even race. The major effects of the injury seemed diminished, and it wasn’t a race ending injury. I was a little bit undecided up until the point that I racked my bike the night before, which was the point of no return. I knew that no race is ever a given, particularly at this point in my life so I decided to go for it.

The race itself almost didn’t happen. Shortly after registration, the company that put on the event went bankrupt. Fortunately, another local organization acquired Iron Girl and another triathlon with a deep local history, and the organization put on other events that had been planned.

Race Day Recap

In the intervening years, I had upgraded my bike and all cycling equipment. I dug out and gathered up the rest of my old equipment. One thing that changed was that I decided to take minimalist approach to transition. I got a small, light inexpensive cloth sack with strings and took only the equipment that I needed to avoid having to carrying a heavier load in a tired state.

I bought a tri top at an end-of-summer sale, planning to do a tri, although I never did until now, so I fortuitously had a great looking top to wear. This was truly awesome – how often do we have a great new top to wear without the trauma of trying to find the perfect wardrobe piece?!

The awkward juxtaposition was that I was a seasoned athlete with the benefit of experience – and a newbie. I made some really rookie mistakes. The first was forgetting my goggles. I should have made a packing list, just as I had done before for races and still do for all professional conferences. I failed to think about how gravelly the paved path was from transition to the swim start – many other athletes wore cheap flip flops and left them at the start. I had a hard time walking and my feet got scratched up.

However, I also had the genius to make a swim wave cheat sheet. The race organizers used swim waves as in the past, but within each wave used a time trial start, letting people in the water two at a time. The organizers anticipated 6-8 minutes per wave, which would have meant that I would not get in the water until over an hour after the start. I am deaf and use a cochlear implant, which cannot be worn in the water, so I wasn’t able to hear the announcements. I planned to use the time to make a last-minute trip to the bathroom. 

The cheat sheet provided visual information about the progress of swim waves, and even those with typical hearing borrowed it for their review! In the end, the waves went faster than anticipated and I was in the water 45 minutes after the start.

I was embarrassed to tell the bodymarkers to write the number 50. As I gathered with others in my age group, perhaps one of the most psychologically important parts of this race was to see other athletes my own age.

I lacked any recent open water practice, and I made the rookie mistake of panicking after getting into the water and choking a bit on some inhaled water. I tried to calm down and relax. Swimming is normally my easiest sport and I tend to think of the swim portion of the race as a “refreshing warm-up,” before the more challenging parts begin. However, the goggles leaked and it was primarily a breast stroke day for me, and although I did get sort of a freestyle stroke going at times, I never completely got into my groove as I’d wanted.

I made conscious decisions about how I was going to conserve energy on the course. The big brick that I’d done involved a narrated group ride with strategies for navigating the course and I picked up some good tips. Among them were to go easy the first few miles. “You’ll see people racing those first few miles and they will blow up on the hills at the end of the course.” So true! I heard a steady stream of “on your left” in the first miles, but then passed people that were younger than I as I climbed the bigger hills at the end.

I was seriously worried about having enough endurance to be able to run at all. In the end, I getting sore at this time and ran slowly, walking a major portion including all of the major hills on the run course.

The race involved a mixture of emotions. I was happy to finish because completing this race was something I’d very much wanted, and I even had a sense of disbelief that I’d actually finished. I was also sad because it is the slowest triathlon I’ve done, although I know that I’m about a year away from actually racing and I know I gave a good effort.

Where Do I Go From Here?

This is the question that sums up my entire post-grad life, with sports and way beyond. My immediate goal is to deal with the knee injury so that it is no longer an issue. I did do a basic bike fit, which resulted in some general adjustments. I may do a fundraiser bike ride, but my other goal is simply to continue to build my base this fall, particularly my running base. After that, I don’t know—we’ll see where it goes!

What does it mean?

As I come to the end of the grad school marathon, I feel like I should stop and reflect on the experience. Did I learn anything? What did I learn? What does it mean to me?

Grad school is an achievement in overcoming life circumstances

I had children in my mid-twenties and by the time I turned 30, I had two toddlers. I entered a graduate program after college, but instead chose to begin a family. I enjoyed my family and my career, but I always longed to go back to school, and I knew that when the time was right, that I would do so. My dad was the relative who really helped our family. He helped pay for our house, our children’s education, and a small amount of money was put aside for my education. Years later, I knew the time was right and what I wanted to study and I embarked on a now-or-never-journey.

If I have any regrets, it’s not being able to get my Ph.D., an ambition that has always been in the back of my mind. I always kept my grade point high because I wanted to keep the door open. But I don’t think I have the stamina for 7 more years of study, and I would die in debt, which is not an appealing prospect. Then I think about the practicalities of the degree. Where would it really fit in with my career?

Most of all, I feel that I’m living my life backward. First children and marriage, then school. And now, as a new grad, I’ll launch into my (sort of) young life! We’ll see how it goes!!

Grad school is a celebration of hearing

One of the reasons that I got the cochlear implant is because I knew that one day I would go back to school, and I thought it would make life easier.

I feel like I missed so much of my education. I sat in front of the classroom and was expected to speechread (a skill I was trying to learn) and never heard anything from middle school onward. In college, I used an FM system for the first time, which helped greatly, but it meant that I had to wear a device and could only hear the teacher and not the discussion.

After I got the cochlear implant, I would always go to my kid’s “American Education Week” where parents can sit in the classroom. I got the biggest kick out of being able to hear the teacher and understand the classroom dialogue. My kids were in middle and high school then and didn’t always appreciate having their mother in the classroom. They told me that I couldn’t live my life through them and I had to stop going! I said I deserved “compensatory education” in special ed parlance.

Grad school is my compensatory education! I always love that I can sit in the classroom and hear the teacher and follow the discussion. Of course, I can’t do these things perfectly and I know I miss things. But I feel that I understand most of what is said, and that’s fine with me. I make school so much easier – I don’t have to rely on reading the textbook for all of my understanding. I can listen to what the instructor is saying.

I’m so warped. The opportunity to hear in the classroom is a thrill of a lifetime that never grows old. Just like the thrill of going to the hearing the movies… or hearing the elevator talk to you!

Grad school is learning about work and life

I’ve studied many topics that I never would have otherwise and I’ve read a lot of interesting books and journal articles. As I think back, I feel that I’ve been able to put into practice some of the skills that I’ve learned. I’ve also gained new insight into management, leadership and the dynamics of the work environment that have helped me a new perspective and context for my experiences. I have grown professionally.

Grad school is an academic accomplishment

I will graduate with high honors and I’ve been inducted into the Delta Mu Delta honor society for business and management.

Now, as I begin my last class, I just hope that I can enjoy what I’m learning, that I will not become too overstressed, and that I will finish strong.

Please pray for me.

Ellicott City Labor Day Running Classic

Somehow, I manage to keep running. This year I began running in the early months of the year and then cut my running down to once a week during the 7-week semester. When that was over, I slowly added runs back into my week, running about 1.5 miles with a generous walk/run ratio. Then I built up to 2 miles at a time for weekday runs with 3 miles on the weekend.

At this point in life, I had no desire to increase my base miles or increase the number of times a week I run. My whole goal has been to maintain a very small base. Instead, I've experimented with longer ratios to increase my endurance and added speedwork to the mix. I was trilled that I was able to keep running throughout the buildup to our summer conference and after.

Running add so much to my quality of life, and I believe that I feel better, think better and function better on the days that I run. This is no longer simply a personal belief or a fuzzy notion that I've encapsulated in my personal philosophy of "yin and yang" in which I seek to counterbalance the mental activity and stress of work and school with the opposing physical activity of running (and swimming and biking). It is now backed by scientific evidence in the book "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" by John Ratey and Eric Hagerman that suggests that exercise affects the brain cells in specific ways that boost our mood and improve our focus.

I've put aside racing because my mileage is so low...but of course, I couldn't resist a 5K and scheduled the "race of the year" for the end of summer, when I had time to prepare and establish a small, but consist base.

Ellicott City Labor Day Running Classic

I'd known about this race for a long time, but somehow never ran it because I was in the midst of preparing for other races and it didn't fit into my mileage or schedule. This year, they offered a new 5K route in effort to attract runners interested in a shorter distance.

The fluorescent yellow race shirt left something to be desired. Although wearing the race shirt on race day is supposed to be bad juju and one shouldn't wear a shirt unless it is earned by running the race, I decided to eschew these traditions and wear the shirt that I probably wouldn't wear anywhere else.

The race is held at the Shrine of St. Anthony, which is located on the IronGirl bike route. I'd ridden past this many times in training and racing and even driving along the route always brings back IronGirl memories.

The entire race was well run, from the volunteers that guided our parking on the grass surrounding the monastery, to the abundant and helpful announcements, to the well-positioned course marshals and the post-race food.

The event organizers made clear in the race materials and at packet pickup that half of the route was on paved roads and half was on paths. However, it was much more of a trail run than originally described and was very different than the wide, smooth paths through the woods that I'm accustomed to running on. The trail that winds through the woods on the property is narrow and the ground ranges from spongy material to a solid dirt path with tree roots emerging. The volunteers had done a wonderful job of spray painting the roots so that people like me would not trip over their own feet and there was plastic tape so that people would not wander off the path.

The trail run provided interesting mental and physical challenges that kept me focused as I navigated the uneven and changing terrain and avoided the spraypainted roots. It a nice diversion that kept me externally focused and prevented me from thinking about myself and my fatigue during the race.

I did an 2/8 ratio throughout the race and from the beginning, I found myself in competition with another middle-aged portly man who seemed older than me. I would run forward and then he would catch up and pass me. He also was using a walk/run strategy, although his walks were shorter and did not seem to fall according to any pattern. During the middle of the race on the trail he charged ahead and was a good distance in front of me as I focused on navigating the trail.

Normally, I follow the ratio strictly, with a rule that I must run when the walk interval ends, even if that is a hill...but the hills on the trail and the grassy portions were unexpectedly steep and I found myself walking up a few. I was glad to be out of the woods, but knew I would encounter one last hill as we climbed toward the finish. It was there that I passed the older man who was my personal competitor. I still had energy in my tank as I charged toward the finish and conquered the final hill. Due to the terrain and the hills, my time was much slower than it ordinarily would have been, but I was satisfied all the same.

Running into the Future

Will I be able to keep running into the fall? I don't know. I'm headed into a very busy fall with work and school. I'm strategizing ways that I can keep my momentum, rather than continue the cycle of stopping and starting as I've done over the past several years. I am anxious to complete the grad school marathon, and to move on to other things in life...but I worry that my running ambitions could be eclipsed by age and injury. We'll see what the future holds.

Of Kindle Paperwhite and TaQualla Butler, the United Airlines Kindle Angel

I left my Kindle Keyboard 3G in the seat pocket on a United Airlines flight from Baltimore to Denver in December. I couldn't believe that I'd been so careless. We filed a missing item report but after reading Steve Silberman's blog, I quickly lost all hope in getting it back. I deactivated my device and went on with life...and even got a wonderful new Kindle.

 

But then a month later, TaQualla Butler tried to send a document to my Kindle account. A quick web search showed that this is her modus operandi. TaQualla Butler is a United Airlines Kindle angel who reunites devices with their owners. She sends a document to a Kindle account to let the owner of the device know that United Airlines has located the device and to ask the owner to make arrangements to have the device sent back to them. A week later, the device was back in my hands, or rather, my husband's because I gave him my old Kindle. I am now enjoying the latest and greatest device...

 

Kindle Paperwhite

When I left my Kindle on the plane, I felt guilty about being so careless, so I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a replacement and I resolved to get one of the lower-end models. I originally was going to get the regular Kindle for just $69, but then when I read the reviews on Paperwhite on Amazon, I was convinced to spend more money and get the new Kindle Paperwhite for $119 model.

I am loving it. I immensely enjoy the light on the device that allows you to read in bed without disturbing anyone - and without the need to attach a separate light. Another advantage to having backlight text is that the lighting is even across the entire pad, unlike a clip-on light. The light feature allows you to read in any lighting condition, from a dark room to outside in the sunlight.

I also really like the touchscreen, which makes the device easy to use and similar to other touchscreen on other devices like a cell phone, etc. The touchscreen makes it easier to access the dictionary and look up definitions and to make notes, etc., just by pressing and holding the screen over the word or phrase.

The Paperwhite has a very simple shape and it feels nice to hold. Because of this, I don't have a cover for the device yet and I'm in no big rush to get one.

I was a bit leary about getting a device with "special offers," i.e., advertising, but the ads are not that distracting. In fact, I admit that I sort of like them. All the Kindles sold in stores have special offers; if you absolutely don't want any offers, then you need to buy directly from Amazon for $20 more.

There are certain design considerations that users should know about. For example, there is no audio on this Kindle, unlike my older model. Audio is now available only on the high-end Fire device. In addition, there is less storage, so you need to keep more on the cloud.

And of course Jeff Bezos' marketing is great with a personal letter to tell you what a great purchase you made.

In summary, I think a key deciding factor is: Where do you like to read books? If you like to read books in bed in the dark, Kindle Paperwhite is for you. The device is by my bedside and I just reach over and grab it if I'm awake at night or first thing in the morning on weekends so that I can get in a little reading before cycling or running. Kindle is helping me beat my winter blues.

Grad School By The Numbers

 

There has been rumbling in some quarters that I “try too hard and study too much” and I “do extra credit.” To respond to these notions, I’ve put together an educational post designed to shed light on the grad school workload. There are NO opportunities for extra credit in grad school. One earns grades from the required assignments and everything is graded on a rubric.

I’d like to debunk the notion that I “try too hard.” On my first assignment for class #2, I realized that I’d spent several hours doing the wrong assignment and then proceeded to quickly do the correct assignment and hand it in. I got the top grade. I was surprised to hear that this was not the case for my peers who were complaining that their case study papers were considered not long enough and there was not enough information provided in the case study to work with (but did you know about Google? It’s a very useful research tool). I do, however, put more effort into high-value assignments for instructors that have strict grading requirements.

This semester was one of my most difficult semesters ever for multiple personal and professional reasons. For the first time in my current job, I decided to take 2 classes because both are completely online (saving travel time) and one was easier. The second 7-week class ran concurrently with the first 14-week class and began in mid-semester when the first was well underway and major projects were due.

By the Numbers

Class #1

• 1,500 words weekly for several essay response questions and a journal entry
• 50 words weekly for discussion board
• 100 pages of reading a week
• 28 total double-spaced pages for final paper (plus reading and researching to gather information for paper; 15 pages minimum, excluding title and reference pages) 
• 12 total double-spaced pages for 3 short papers (plus reading journal article that formed the basis for the papers; 9 pages required, excluding title and reference pages)

Class #2

• 120 pages of reading each week
• 300 words weekly for discussion board
• 14 total double-spaced pages for final paper (plus reading and researching to gather information for paper; 10 pages minimum, excluding title and references)
• 8 single-spaced pages for business case studies
• 5 PowerPoint slides for group project (plus 3 conference calls and reading to develop slides)

The Result

My grade point streak continues!! I now have 3 more classes to complete and will graduate in December 2013 or May 2014.

Run for Your Life, Part II

It was the end of the academic semester and three months before our major convention. In addition to part-time staff, I had an intern last summer, but this time I didn't. And there are only so many hours in the day. The stress wrapped itself around me like a vise. I felt tense all of the time. I developed problems sleeping and would wake up before my alarm went off and start thinking about work. Getting back to sleep was impossible, so I just went to work. I developed problems with eating.

Out of all this...a really great thing happened. I once again decided to get on the treadmill at 4:30 a.m. to run and walk. Just 1.5 miles at first. Then 2 miles with a generous walk/run ratio. Just two weekdays. My "long" runs on the weekends were at most just one more mile. Running is always hard at first because there are a lot of aches and pains. It was the only time when the stress melted away. I felt like a million and sometimes the effect lasted for the rest of the day. And sooner - or later - running gets easier and 2 miles isn't so hard. I still have a tiny base, and I have no plans to do anything except increase my base little by little. Consistency is still a challenge. I've run two 5Ks this summer and I hope to find another one. I hope to continue.

Run For Your Life

Not long ago, I left a staff position at a large association that I’d held for 13 years and took a management position at a small nonprofit. I had stayed in my previous position due to many externalities related to being a married working mother and longed for a change. The new position was one that I’d said I’d hoped one day to hold on my graduate school applications. The career move changed my entire life, but left me wondering if it was for the better.

I’d previously worked about 40 hours a week, commuted two hours daily, and completed two graduate classes a semester. I ascribed to a philosophy of yin and yang—as I understood it—and counterbalanced work and studying by the equal and opposing physical activity of training for and running my third half marathon. However, my training plan and fitness level were modest. In my new position, I worked about 50 hours a week, commuted up to 3 hours daily, and completed a single graduate class a semester. As the pace of the job sped up and the months flew by, life got out of balance as I found it difficult to get back into a fitness routine and fended off minor stress-related physical problems. At my lowest point, after a difficult day at the office, I sprained my ankle getting up from the couch, and after sitting on the couch another month to recuperate, I could barely walk two blocks without getting winded.

I've greatly enjoyed the ups and downs of running and multisport. I originally started running to lose weight. Then I ran for various other reasons...

Reasons Why….

• I run because it’s a back-to-nature experience and I enjoy seeing the local ecosystems change with the seasons
• I run for the endorphins
• I run because I want to give it another season
• I run because it allows me to run away from my stress at the end of the day
• I run because it wakes me up in the morning (if I can get up to run!)
• I run because it allows me to review my class material
• I run because I think it might reduce migraines (of course, there’s no proof, but it’s motivating!)
• I run because I want to tri

But now, I'm not running to race or to have a racing season. I'm running for my life. I want to run because it's the only way that I can relieve stress.

I'm ready to ponder the central theme of Joanne Ciulla’s book, The Working Life: The Promise and Betrayal of Modern Work (2000), which focuses on the meaning of work, it's place in our lives, and leisure. Send your muse my way because that's the topic of my next paper.

Raise Your Hand When You Want to Change the Subject

Every semester, I always debate whether or not to mention that I'm deaf when classes begin, and so far, I've always let my instructors know that I'm deaf. Although I'm documented with the school's office of disability services as a student with a disability, I've never actually used any accommodations because I never felt the need. I simply let instructors know that I am deaf and will not likely use accommodations, but may do so if I face any unforseen challenges. What could be wrong with this picture?

I became deaf just before middle school. Now I'm in grad school and can finally hear the teacher in class with my cochlear implant without the need for additional assistive technology or other accommodations. Do I hear everything? No. There's always a student in the back of the class in the cornter that I can't understand. And I'm sure that I miss a thing or two that the teacher says. But to me, being able to understand most, but not all, of the instruction and dialogue is good enough and I'm happy with what I do hear. One of the reasons that I wanted the cochlear implant was because I knew one day I would return to school and I thought the implant would make it easier -- and it has. I'm thrilled to be able to sit down in class and understand the teacher.

However, not all the instructors seem to react so positively.

In one class, I would raise my hand and not get called on. Then I wrote a paper in which my grade was 20 points higher than the average grade in the class on the project. After that, the teacher began to call on me.

This semester, I got an A on my paper. I had my hand up numerous times during a discussion in which I had a lot of opinion. I was called on just once, although others in the class were called on repeatedly during the conversation.

I don't like to blurt out responses in class because I prefer to clearly have the conversational ball.
But what does it take to get called on and participate?

The solution to this situation is:
a) Nothing. It is all in my imagination.
b) I should disclose my disability only if I need an accommodation.
c) Do my homework and keep quiet in class.
d) Stop writing multiple choice questions!
e) None of the above

Grad School Math

I take that back. I don't think I have the grad school blues. School is actually the easiest way to feel successful right now. It is unbelieveably easy. I barely study. I get good grades. I wrote 4 papers in 4 weeks, and then just showed up to present. The only thing that mattered was whether I cited peer-reviewed journals, and for the most part, I did.

I am surrounded by students who have easier lives. They have a short commute to school and home. They get off at 3-4 p.m. in the afternoon and then they go home to refresh themselves before coming to school. I commute 3 hours a day - on non-school days. I don't want to think about how much time I spend in a car on schooldays.

I work 8-12 hours a day and I still feel that I am drowining in the deep water. And then I contemplate trying to take 2 classes next semester and trying to add a 4 hours of studying every night to that schedule, with more on the weekends. Everyday, I wake up and think about how I'm going to finish and everyday it's the one question I can't answer. To be fair, next semester I'm taking an online class and a Saturday class, but I'll still need to actually study, unlike this semester. I also know I'll need to take at least 2 more semesters of 2 classes to gradute in the next 1.5-2 years. I try to balance and accommodate eveyone else's needs and then I wonder how I'm ever going to meet my own.

Let's do the grad school math:

10 hours work - and I still feel as though I'm drowning
3 hours commute on a non-school day. 4.5 hours on a school day.
3-4 hours of studying each night for 2 classes. No weekend work despite the work buildup!!
2 hours get up and care for son
1 hour eat/talk to spouse
= 19-20 hour day

Grad School Blues

I always compare grad school to running a marathon. Right now I'm at the half-marathon mark. Halfway through. The point where it doesn't get any easier--and there's still 13.1 more miles to go. It will be a long, slow journey. This year, I've committed to taking just one class so that I wouldn't be so busy during my youngest child's last year of high school. And then there's the new job, which doesn't leave as much time for going to school.

I finally got an idea for an area that I would like to explore, if I were taking an independent study. I developed a research question from reading the textbook before class started, which I scribbled on an envelope. This is my last elective, and I'd been eagerly anticipating it since I registered last spring. Given the subject matter, I envisioned learning about best practices in developing marketing messages. I visualized an interactive assignment around personal selling.

But all the hope, dreams, and excitement were crushed when I read the syllabus. The entire class revolves around writing 4 papers (just one more than the undergrad students taking the class), and completing a group assignment. The topic is interesting--but the syllabus completely uninspiring. It's only the first class and I'm already making plans to work ahead so that I can get this class over with. I've got the grad school blues. And I'm piled higher and deeper.

So Much Change

My entire multisport life has been a complete wash. In the past, I've been able to get back to multisport during the summer and use the time away from grad school to get back into shape. But this year, I've been swept away with a busy new job, grad school, and then a work-related summer conference. I signed up for three races - two before I took the position - and I think I'm going to forego all of them.

There have been some highlights. My husband and I and our youngest son took a weekend trip to Snow Hill, Maryland. The highlight was cycling from Snow Hill to Berlin. It was 50 miles roundtrip, but for the most part, the miles were easy because the terrain was flat. We followed parts of the Seagull Century route, which made me want to do the Seagull Century. The only difficult part was heading back at the end of the day when we were tired and facing a strong headwind.

Our kid and a friend cycled to Ocean City, accompanyed by a girl who asked if they needed "a partner in crime." She was an experienced cyclist who took a water pack and had clipless pedals, so I though she was a good match. Their journey was longer, and they also faced the headwind. It was an awesome, enjoyable trip--something that I put together at the spur of the moment, and thoroughly enjoyed. Sometimes the weekend trips are the best.

For the most part, I spent the summer trying to get back into running, but never quite doing it. I'd eat an ice cream cone and read the latest issue of Runners World. But I'm still trying to get back into running, and I hope to succeed, even as the school year begins. I have no vision of racing....right now. I simply want to stay in shape, enjoy the stress relief, and get some semblance of worklife balance. I actually feel grumpy if I can't get a bike ride in during the weekend. And there's never a time when I see a cyclist pass me in D.C. that I don't wish that I was riding my bike. This effect is only intensified when I see someone riding clipless.

It doesn't help that my husband has an ankle injury. He's been to an othopod, PT and had xrays and an MRI. But he's still experiencing pain and injury that affect his everyday life. We have another appointment coming up, and I'm crossing my fingers that we'll get some better answers.

Philadelphia Half Marathon: The 13.1 mile fun run

This is a half-marathon that almost didn't happen.

I signed up for this race because it was the day after my association's annual convention ended, and I thought it might be fun. I also realized that it was a late-season race that was well into my grad school semester, which might make training challenging--and it was. I fell down on my training in the face of multiple school projects, and I really debated whether I should run the race because I felt seriously undertrained. Then, of course, there were some benefits to being undertrained, as some of the aches and pains that I'd been experiencing faded away. But there was another unanticpated challenge: walking about 3 miles for three days in the convention center with professional footwear. My feet were really sore and felt like they were developing blisters and my legs felt like they were developing shin splints.

My husband came up to Philly and we enjoyed ourselves, carbo loading at a nice Italian place. Frankly, I think he just enjoyed spending some quality time with me! He ran the Rothman 8K the day before, the first run after the Marine Corps Marathon several weeks earlier. They started the race by playing the theme song to Rocky, which got my husband off to a really fast start and a PR.

My race was the next day. I still couldn't believe I was going to run 13.1 miles! The race was an opportunity to upgrade my winter running attire and I had a new Sport Hill top that was both cute and very practical with a zippered pocket in the back.

We headed over to the race start in darkness and I walked around and warmed up and then got into the corral. This was the largest race I've ever been in, and somehow it never dawned on me how long it would take for my race to get started--I didn't cross the starting line until a half hour after the gun went off. The sun was up now and it was a beautiful cold fall day.

My whole goal was to keep running until mile 10. I knew that if I could get to that point without major pain, I could finish. I started conservatively, setting an easy pace.

I've run the Baltimore half-marathon twice, so to me, despite what the race elevation chart said, the course seemed flat except for a 2-mile stretch between miles 8 and 10 which was pretty much a long uphill climb. People started walking, but I was determined to power through and keep on running.

I really enjoyed running through the streets of Philadelphia and seeing all of the homes and businesses in the different neighborhoods. The crowds were very supportive. Around mile 6, I felt like eating a Shot Block, but decided to wait, but at mile 7 my hand reached in my back pocket. I had another at mile 8. Then, at mile 9-10 there was Gu. I normally hate the taste and texture of gels, but decided to try it. The vanilla Gu wasn't that bad. I washed it down with a sip of water or gatorade at every stop. By the time I got to the band playing at mile 10 in Fairmount Park, I was amped up on all the Shot Blocks, gel, and gatorade and I was feeling pretty good.

I decided it was time to play the passing game and began to pass people as I headed to the finish. And at about mile 12, I was really ready for the race to be over and began looking for the place where the marathoners split from the half marathoners. At the very end of the race, we headed out of the park and back into the city toward the finish line and I was done.

The whole race was really well organized. After the finish line, runners went into a chute where they received post-race food and drinks and could pick up their bags, and there were no lines.

I finished about 3 minutes slower than a previous HM on a much hillier course. I was really glad that I ran the race. Sometimes, just being in the game is what counts.

The Highs and Lows of Multisport

My goal was to get back into a regular fitness routine before the semester started because its so much easier to maintain a fitness routine and add academics to it, than the other way around. I didn't race this summer because I didn't want any comparison between this year and last, when I had a stellar season. Instead, I picked out two events in August that were more about fun and less about competition.

Purple Swim

This year, Purple Swim in Baltimore offered both one and two mile swims (and participants could swim both events for a total of three miles), so I signed up for the one-mile swim. The event raises money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and I wanted to donate in honor of my co-worker Kate Thaxton who died of pancreatic cancer on June 6, 2010. She was 37 years old. I didn't know Kate that well, but followed her battle with cancer through news from co-workers and her blog. A lot of people will give you the big blowoff, but not Kate. She welcomed everyone in her life and when I sent a friend request on Facebook, she accepted.

In pictures of the event from the previous year, I noticed that about half of the participants were wearing wetsuits. I'd gotten a new wetsuit as a birthday present from my husband, and of course I wanted the occasion to wear it. I worried that the wetsuit wouldn't fit right because I'd lost several pounds earlier this year, but a friend said that unless I was planning to break an Olympic record, the suit would fit fine. Everyone encouraged me to try it out, but I felt self-conscious. Finally, on the last night of practice before the swim, I brought the wetsuit and tried it on. No one batted an eye. An experienced triathlete walked into the changing room while I was wriggling into the wetsuit, but to my relief, said nothing. The suit fit fine. It made swimming easy because it kept the whole body buoyant, and all I had to do was move my arms and kick a bit. The buoyancy was a drawback, however, because it made it more difficult to do breaststroke which I use to orient myself in open water.

In the end, I never wore the wetsuit. The air temperature quickly pushed into the upper 80s and the water was warm, and it just seemed to warm to be encased in neoprene. Only about a fourth of the swimmers wore wetsuits.

The swim went great. I'd been warned of a current that made swimming slow, so I decided to wear a watch so that if I seemed to get bogged down while swimming against a current, I could look at the watch and remind myself that I was still moving along. But the event organizer changed the course this year and we rounded buoys, making a 4-sided figure. I loved approaching one buoy, going around it, sighting the next and swimming towards it. This made the swim go fast and broke it down into several goals that I could meet and exceed.

My husband asked me if I had any particular strategies for the swim. I confess that I had none. I don't have an abundance of open water experience. My goal was not to get too winged out by anything: the taste or feel of the water, the plant life, and accidental contact. My major goal was to get into a swimming groove and keep up a strong stroke while using my sighthing skills. And, for the most part, I did this and felt that I gave a good effort. I'm typically a mid-pack athlete, and I was a wee bit disappointed to find myself in the bottom fourth of the swimmers for the 1 mile swim, with a time of 44:22.

My son brought his girlfriend and they swam in the water afterward and we all enjoyed a picnic lunch. We watched the two mile swimmers come in, and then we watched the dogs swim. It was a perfect day.

Eat a Peach Ride

The following Saturday, I headed up to Westminster for the Eat a Peach ride. It was a day that started out bad, and got worse. I was driving on the highway halfway to the Caroll County Agricultural Center when I noticed another car with a bike rack and spotted the spotted the seatpouch, which carries extra tire tubes, CO2, and the like. That's when I remembered that I'd forgotten to put my seat bag back on my bike after washing it last weekend. If my tire popped, I'd be entirely dependent on the SAG wagon to get to me. I couldn't believe I'd made such a stupid mistake.

The event was much bigger than I'd imagined and when I got there shortly after 7 a.m., there already were plenty of bikers parked on the grass. By the time I'd gotten my number, clarification about the flag system of marking the route, and my gear organized, it was 8 a.m. when I set out.

The ride started out good and I proceeded down Salem Bottom Road out of the town of Westminster. There were many rolling hills and I was encouraged by my ability to get up the hills. When I was confused about which direction to take, I got out my map, but others came up behind me and we figured out the way.

Things began to change when I turned onto Rt. 26 Liberty Road. I wasn't seeing as many yellow flags on the side of the road and when I passed a sign saying that I was in the next county, I began to have more doubts. My bike computer showed 14 miles and my cue sheet told me to take a turn at the 12 mile mark. I circled back, but then saw two riders going the way I'd been going, so I circled back to follow them, thinking that they couldn't be wrong. Soon, all three of us were having the same doubts.

Miraculously, a SAG wagon pulled up within minutes to steer us back to the course. We took a shortcut back to the route by going up Buffalo Road (part of the century and 40-mile route) and then taking a left to Barnes Road. Getting lost rattled me. I'd gone 2-3 miles out of my way and I was a bit more tired than I wanted to be on a hilly route this early in the ride. I rode along with the two other riders, a young couple who were strong riders, until we got to the rest stop at the 18 mile mark, which was a welcome sight. The ride promised two rest stops, but I hadn't seen the first. It really didn't matter, though because I and most other riders brought snacks.

After this, I caught up to a rider who was a strong, young dude with attire indicating that he was with a local cycling club. We were on very narrow country roads now. Many of the roads were not well marked and we were dependent on sighting flags to guide the way.

In one bad moment, I found myself on a very steep, short hill right before Sams Creek Road. I'd made a tactical mistake and was in a gear that was too high. I lacked the strength to get up the hill and couldn't get out of my clips, so I avoluntarily tipped my bike so I could walk up the hill. The other rider didn't look back, but didn't leave. I skinned my knee, but promptly got back on the bike.

Several miles later, the young dude popped his tire. I was planning to wait, but he pulled out a spare tube, said that he had the SAG number and walked away. I rode onward and was lonelier than I wanted to be on a group ride. The scenery was beautiful and at one point, I was on a cliffhanger road overlooking open farmland, rolls of grass, and big open sky. I rode past cows in pastures and a crumbling barn. The middle part of the ride didn't have as many hills. But that changed toward the end.

At about the 28 mile mark, I spotted a stone near the side of the road near a turn on the route, got off my bike, and decided that I needed a snack and gobbled down almost an entire bag of energy chews. A rider with zip wheels flew past me up the hill. Not me. I began to walk some of the steeper hills. The younger dude who'd stopped to change his tire caught up to me and passed me as I walked.

We got close to the end, speeding down a hill toward a stoplight at the intersection of Rt. 27--only to see that the route heads straight upwards on a huge hill. Wicked!! The stronger riders rode up the hill, but there were a good number of people--including me--who walked up the hill.

I was glad to reach the finish. I enjoyed the post race food and some conversation. Then I went into the agricultural center to the Eat a Peach festival and bought some pear bread, red raspberry jam, and an old fashioned kitchen towel that hangs over the oven handle. Of course, I helped myself to several ripe, juicy peaches!!

Then I went home and shed a few tears. I've never been disappointed in my performance in an event, and this was a first. I was disappointed that I tipped my bike and disappointed that I'd walked the hills. My future goals involve riding hilly routes, and I couldn't even get through 33+ miles of hills. Most likely, I need a deeper base with cycling, more hill climbing experience, and better technique. But I also thought back to where I started and I've come a long way. For my first triathlon, I specifically chose one that was flat and wimped out of signing up for a triathlon held in Carroll county after driving the bike course. I've come a good distance--but I have a ways to go.

* * *

I'm in better shape now, and in an endorphin rush, I'm fighting the urge to sign up for a Big Event. I read an article in The Washington Post magazine about someone who has a busy job as a project manager for a big highway construction project. She recently completed an Ironman. She gives me the inspiration that a busy life doesn't necessarily preclude big athletic goals. For me, only time will tell as I balance schoolwork with the desire to maintain a base over the winter.

* * *

Here are some hill climbing tips that I'll be thinking about on my next ride:

Hill Climbing Technique

• Gear selection is important—this comes with experience. Experienced cyclists shift gears all the time to achieve the right cadence, about 70-80 rpm. Some athletes use a higher or lower cadence. Get into a good rhythm!
• Get into rhythm at bottom of hill and gain momentum. Don’t attack too hard. Get into a good pace—don’t get anaerobic. Get into your groove. Hit the sweet spot. When you bog down, shift gears or stand up.
• Sitting is the most efficient way to climb—scoot back in the saddle to use your hamstrings or glutes. Then scoot forward to give those muscles a rest. Shift position frequently, especially on longer hills. Can sit at a 45 degree angle or sit more upright to use different muscles.
• Don’t tense up--drop your shoulders. Relax your jaw. Wiggle your fingers. Synchronize our breathing. Place your hands on the top of the bars. Push your stomach out. Hands are relaxed so you don’t waste energy. The more still you are, the less energy you use.
• Pedal with an ankeling style—pull back on the 6 to 9 o’clock part of the stroke.
• Stand up—don’t lose momentum. When one pedal goes down, shift your weight onto it and pop up. Standing is less efficient, but important because you generate more power. Stand when the pitch gets steeper. Let gravity work for you. Feel like you’re standing out of a chair. Pull up on your handlebars. Then resume seated position; go get back into your grove.
• Pick up the pace during the last 20% of the hill as you crest the hill and get over the top. Recover only when you go down.

IT TAKES PRACTICE!

Tips compiled from videos by Troy Jacobson and Bill Strickland

IG Dress Rehearsal

Every, once a year, Columbia Triathlon Association hosts an IronGirl dress rehearsal and allows people to do a practice swim in the lake. I didn't get into the race this year because registration closed unexpectedly quickly - just a day or so after it opened. I volunteered this year as a swim buddy, to swim with someone who might be hesitant or unsure about the swim. Frankly, I was just looking for an excuse to swim in the lake for some open water swim practice.

I admit I had a preconceived notion of who might request a swim buddy. To my surprise, I was matched with someone who was slightly younger than I who was thin and fit. She explained that she was doing IG as a relay with two other women, and I envied the friendships that made it possible. She wanted to do the swim because she wanted the "full experience." I knew she might be thinking about doing the full race herself one day.

The similarities between us were uncanny. We had the same name. She wore a swimsuit that is almost exactly the same as mine. She had tri shorts that are nearly the same as a pair I have.

As we walked toward the water preparing to get in, I saw her jaw quiver. Was she cold? Or was she scared? I wasn't sure.

In the water, she and I swam side by side. I tried to position myself close to her so that other swimmers wouldn't make contact. I wasn't too sure what to say during the swim, so I pointed out the scenery and offered a few tips. She swam with her head above the water at all times. She swam slow...but then she would surge and I knew that she was strong and fit.

When she got out she was crying. She'd been more scared than she let on and these were tears of joy that she had overcome a fear.

I was haunted by what I didn't tell her: She's a strong swimmer. All she needs is a little more experience and a lot more confidence. But which Susan are we talking about?

The Tipping Point

Although I haven't read the book by Malcolm Gladwell, this blog post is not so much about the spread of ideas as it is about making a decision--and then re-examining that decision in detail and truly deciding that the path taken is the best one.

In my last post, I was seriously thinking about changing graduate programs. I originally was admitted, but not matriculated, into two local MBA programs. Ultimately, I chose a master's in management program. Three weeks into the program, I learned that my preferred degree specialization in marketing was discontinued, so I chose another specialization...only to realize that it wasn't the best fit. The only option to continue with the program would be to pursue an "individualized" specialization--or to switch to another program that offered the preferred specialization.

The programs came calling. An acceptance offer into a grad program gives candidates a year to matriculate--and programs sent out a reminder before the year came to a close. Once again, I made an Excel spreadsheet. The programs that were on top of the list were those that would allow me to transfer at least some credits. I compared the credits-to-degree, cost-to-degree, and time-to-degree. I examined the accreditation and analyzed the curriculum at each program. I debated the relative merits of a local program versus a distance-learning online program. And I read articles such as this one. There are never any right answers to such decisions--all programs have their strengths and weaknesses and any would be a good choice. It is more about making the right choice for myself.

I prepared an application to a school, contacted two references, and once again rounded up my transcripts.

On a whim, I once again looked up possible classes that could be taken to complete the degree and then searched to see if they were offered in fall. I found a class in public relations and one in non-profit marketing and fundraising. Both fit my schedule perfectly. And both were interesting and relevant. This was the tipping point in my decision.

I decided that the best program was the one in which I am enrolled. Why?

• I believe this degree program covers many business topics in MBA programs (exceptions: statistics/math, law, and operations management).
  
• I believe this program will provide me with a well-rounded education (in comparison to an MBA program that offers 5 classes in marketing; 3 general MBA courses, plus undegrad prerequisites).
  
• I believe that my current program will provide me with relevant coursework that will strengthen my background.
  
• I believe the courses in this program will be more fun, interesting, and relevant.
  
• I will have the benefit of classroom instruction that allows me to have a teacher to explain concepts. I might be able to complete courses online, when offered.
  
• The current program can be completed by December 2012 (sooner or later, depending on circumstances) given the completion of 4 classes annually. This allows me to complete the degree around the same time my second child finishes high school.
  
• The degree program is affordable. It is half the cost of the least-expensive business degree.

Most importantly, I would hate to take on a degree program that is so extensive and has so many credits to complete the program that I don't finish. I know all too well that life can happen. I was once about to enter a graduate program. I was in my twenties. And then I got pregnant. I decided to work to support my child and nearly four years later I had a second child. I was satisfied with my job and busy raising my children...but I always wanted to complete my education. At different points in time, I wanted to go in different directions and it was difficult to determine the direction my education should take. I did several different educational pursuits, such as taking continuing education courses and earning the CAE, but what I really wanted was to go to grad school.

Finally, the time is right. I hope that I've made the right decision about my academic program. Most of all, I hope I finish.

Milestone

I finally did it. I went back to the swim team.

I got injured last fall and got busy with grad school and decided to take time off. But the stress of school and lack of sports did me in. All fall, I looked out the window and thought about the leavees turning color on my favorite trail. Then I'd munch on a bag of chips while completing a paper.

At the end of the semester after a long layoff and the addition of a few pounds, I tried to get back into my exercise routine around December and January. I thought about returning to the swim team. I'd pack up my swim bag and put my contact lenses in and tell myself that this was the night I'd return. But then I thought about how slow I'd swim and how humiliated I'd be with my complete lack of fitness, and I just couldn't do it.

I got involved in the biggest loser program at work, met my goal of losing a few pounds, and aced another grad class. I'm now at my "race weight," but still without a fitness base. I've had time to accept reality.

Going back was just as I envisioned. I walked up to the slowest lane, got in, and warmed up. I then realized that I couldn't swim more 100 yards without tiring. I couldn't swim more than 200 yards without a foot cramp. Well, at least my arms are still functional and I did most of the workout with a pull bouy. I called it quits 45 minutes later after trying to kick again and getting more foot cramps. I probably did less than 900 yards.

The one good thing was that everyone was nice and welcoming, regardless of my complete and total lack of fitness.

What are my goals? I don't have any. It feels really weird, but I have no big athletic goals. No race lineup. I signed my husband up for his second marathon, but I knew I'd never have time to train for a marathon, so I didn't sign myself up. Hubby ran a 10K, I stayed home and did homework.

My only goal is to find a new balance between work, grad school, family, and fitness (not necessarily in that order!). And this juggling act may be my biggest challenge yet. I know I'll have to scale down my athletic goals. Maybe I can rebuild a base. And then maybe I can dream.

My New Ride

I'm going to take this blog back to its humble beginnings and talk about some of the things got this bog started in the first place...swimming, cycling, and running. After a long layoff and an ITB injury, I've been slowly trying to get back to the triad, but it's been tough with grad school. When push comes to shove, what will win out? A) sleep, B) homework, C) exercise. (This is a multiple guess question.)

The one thing that I have been enjoying is my weekend rides. My big 2009 Christmast present was a new Specialized Dolce with a compact crank. The picture above was from my first spring ride with the new bike. I feared that my feet would get stuck in the clipless pedals and I would fall in a heap and scratch the bike. Didn't happen! Although I spent little time on the trainer, my feet are at peace with the pedals. I'm having a lot of fun with the newfangled bike, playing with the brakes and the shifters on the handlebars.

I enjoy the anticipation of the rides and investigate new cycling routes on www.mapmyride.com. So what if I'm totally out of shape? If I want to dress up like a cycling fashionista and cruise around the block on the weekend, that should be encouraged. The scenery and the stress relief are priceless.

Lost

Is is dark where you are?

Can you count the stars where you are?

Are you lost where you are?

--Howie Day, Longest Night

Do you ever feel like it's dark and you're lost an unable to look up at the stars to navigate a path through life? I feel like this a lot these days.

I can't figure out my assignment. I know not where I'm going with school. Should I follow my head and stay with my current program with its shorter time-to-degree? But is this program really right for me? Or, should I follow my heart? Should I try to transfer to the program that I rejected? The one with the longer time-to-degree that I keep looking back at over my shoulder?

I'll take a break from that puzzling assignment that I'm stuck on to edit this post to be more revealing and less cryptic. And I welcome suggestions for this situation, dear readers (if anyone reads this).

Last fall I entered a 39-credit master's in management program. Although I never said it on my application, I intended to specialize in marketing. Three weeks after entering the program, I found out that my intended specialization was discontinued. I decided to make lemon aide and choose to stay in the program, with a different specialization.

I'm now taking the first online class in that specialization and I love it a little too much. My advisor warned, "these classes are condensed...the material is taught at a higher level." I find that the higher-level material is stimulating, the condensed time period is manageable, and the students are more mature. While I like the class, but I'm still unsure whether the specialization is right for me. My goal in this journey is to gain knowledge that will be marketable in the workforce. And if the specialization is not right, then the degree looses its value and my time, money, and effort are not well invested.

I made a decision and I take responsibility for that, but I also feel that I am not entirely to blame as I got caught up in a circumstance I never anticipated. Of course I wonder whether I should have faced my fears gone into the MBA program that I turned down with much reluctance. Of course I feel that I should have made different decisions at different junctures.

I've tried very hard to make lemon aide, but it's not tasting good. As I complete 9 credits, I know that I'm crossing the Rubicon, that point of no return. If I go further, I will have too many credits to transfer---and I may very well be at that point now.

What are the options?

• Remain in my current program: Choose between my current specialization ... or the "individualized specialization" (read = just choose 4 classes of interest)
• Choose an MBA program. Choose between a program that will allow me to transfer some credits ... or no credits. Choose between an online program ...or a traditional program.

Maybe some day I'll look to the heavens and see a constellation that will guide me. For now, I'll get back to that homework that's puzzling me.

And here's a truely corny conclusion to this post, my fortune cookie: "You have an important new business development shaping up."