First Ever Band Concert!

Just wanted to share one of the songs from Aly's program last night. It was fun to hear the first band concert.

Just keep remembering...."I'm an Iron Girl. I can accomplish anything!"

Today will be an difficult day emotionally for me. As much as I LOVE to preach my story and the Move Over Law, it takes its toll on my emotions. Dr. Tornabene has asked me once again to teach Personal safety in her Health and Wellness class. I did this last semester and it was a great, but emotional experience. If you are around and want to see my lesson....it's today at 1:00 in Ed Endazhi-gikinoo'amaading 20.

My heart is also heavy this day for a friend. She must put her life-long friend down. Her dog Zora has had a great life for 13 long years, but unfortunately, Zora is having great difficulties walking and standing. They have tried a regiment of drugs and there was little success. We shall miss you Zora! 

Have a great weekend all!

Creative Block or Burnout

WOW! I haven't blogged for awhile. While I do enjoy it, I haven't felt the desire to do so lately. Whereas positivity normally oozes out my pores (making my friends nauseous at times), I struggling to stay on top of some things.

I've been pouring my heart and soul into the program plan being designed by classmates Ruthanne and Elly. Our program plan focuses on teaching drivers the components of the Move Over Law. We just handed in paper three which was our proposed theoretical framework and interventions. We've gone into the previous two papers feeling that they were well put together and thought out. However, each has had serious issues according to our professor. It has been frustrating to put SO much work into a paper and not get the grade you thought you deserved.

My SMARTBoard assignment should be done, but I cannot see to pull it together. I think I've put so much time and effort into my other projects that I've lost my creative juices to keep creating...or it's just that time in the semester where EVERYONE could use a break.

Why can't we have a Spring Break in the Fall session? Thanksgiving is not going to be long enough. =(

Picture from http://www.theqshack.com

Hopefully with a few days off and being surrounded by friends and family...(not that I won't be doing more homework during Thanksgiving too)...I can bounce back and finish the semester strong.

Here's wishing each of you a Happy Thanksgiving. Remember to give thanks for all you have. What is here today, may not be here tomorrow. 

Mooooooooooove Over!

This past Wednesday I had the opportunity to teach a three to five minute presentation to an online class using UMConnect. The topic could be anything of our choosing. I chose a topic that I am quite passionate about...the Ted Foss Move Over Law.  An unknown law to most motorists, yet one that is of utmost importance!!!

Trooper Ted Foss

In August of 2000, Trooper Ted Foss had pulled over a speeding motorist. He had positioned his car behind the speeding motorist's mini-van and had his lights flashing. As he was issuing the ticket to the driver, a semi-truck veered off of the roadway, striking Trooper Foss's squad along with the mini-van and Trooper Foss. Unfortunately Trooper Foss was killed. 

In response to this horrific accident, the Ted Foss Move Over Law (Minnesota statute 169.18, subdivision 11) was created and put into effect in August of 2002. The law is designed to give emergency vehicles room to work on the portion of roadway they are occupying by requiring passing motorists to leave a lane vacant between them and those parked emergency vehicles. The law also requires that drivers reduce their speed as they pass the location of the emergency vehicle(s) and road repair equipment. An emergency vehicle is defined by Minnesota statute as the following: towing vehicles, police vehicles, ambulances, fire trucks, freeway service patrol vehicles, road maintenance trucks and construction vehicles. 

To put it simply:

• If you are traveling on a roadway with two of more lanes, you must keep a lane away when passing a stopped ambulance, fire truck, or law enforcement vehicle, towing vehicles, road maintenance trucks, construction vehicles, and freeway service patrol vehicles.
• If you are not able to safely move a lane away, reduce your speed by at minimum of 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.
• If you fail to take these actions you could receive a citation.
• Ignoring this law endangers the law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and tow truck drivers who provide critical — and sometimes lifesaving — services on Minnesota roadways.

I can tell you of three other accidents just in Minnesota that could have been prevented if drivers had slowed down and moved over. Three firefighters have been hurt or killed in roadside accidents. Captain Kim Granholm was stuck and killed in an chain reaction accident while at the scene of a car fire on Interstate 35. St. Cloud Assistant Fire Chief Don Billig was struck and killed while he was putting a barricade back into position. Just this year, firefighter Cory Broich, was struck at the scene of a car fire. Broich is lucky in the respect that he is still alive, but is still recovering from the accidents. His legs were severely damaged. 

The stories of these four men is only a portion of the overall situation. We have loss of life, but we also have an economic impact on our state. According to the League of Minnesota Cities Trust Insurance (LMCIT), over $2 million dollars have been spent on the care of those city employees (firefighters, law enforcement, public works and parks workers) who have been hurt or killed by motorists while doing their job in the last ten years. League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust provides property, liability, workers' compensation and employee benefit needs to Minnesota cities. In some ways, LMCIT functions much like an insurance company. Cities pay a premium to LMCIT (from your tax dollars) and LMCIT pays claims and losses on the city’s behalf. To some $2 million over ten years may not seem like a lot, but in an economy where EVERY penny counts, $2 million could be used on better things. 

People who don't move over or slow down...DRIVE me CRAZY! I wish I could pull them over and let them know the potential impact of their decision to not move over or slow down. I wish I could be the one that issues the tickets just for that! :-)

All I ask....PLEASE move over and slow down whenever you see a vehicle on the side of the road. This isn't a courtesy to whoever is one the side of the road...this is the LAW!!!!

Crazy at the Fire Hall

I've spent the better part of the last four days at the fire hall. Even though I am no longer a member of the department, the fire hall is still my home away from home. Every October when Fire Prevention Week rolls around, I can be found at the station imparting fire safety wisdom onto kindergartners and second graders in the Esko School district. I absolutely LOVE doing this. 


Last Friday (10/8), 76 kindergartners (in three groups) eagerly entered the fire hall. They came to the station wearing their paper helmets and with an eagerness to learn and see the fire trucks.  

With the help of fire department members:

Scott Prachar

Ben Dvorak

Kyle Gustafson

...the kids learned the proper way to Stop, Drop, Cover Your Eyes and Roll; Get Out and Stay Out when there's a fire; and we took them on a tour of the station. I squeeze as much as I can in the 45 minutes I get to spend with them. They never cease to amaze me with their level of knowledge and questions (and of course the stories they can tell too). They are like sponges and soak in everything I am teaching them. 


When we tour the station, I ask the kids to count how many fire trucks we have in the station (there are seven), to find more air tanks for our air packs, and to find the axes and ladders. I show them the difference between a regular hose nozzle that they would use and the BIG nozzle a firefighter uses to put out the fire. They even get to see where we hang our hoses to dry after a fire. The most exciting thing for the kids to do is walking through the cab of our biggest engine! 


Saturday brought about another adventure at the fire hall. The family and friends of my husband, Kim, gathered to clean our section of freeway. This is something we do twice a year. We adopted the two mile stretch of freeway in which Kim's accident happened. We meet in the morning for coffee and donuts and then head out to clean. The freeway is a frustrating place for me to be. Even though we have a fire truck and a cop car watching and protecting us on the road, I still don't feel safe out there. That stretch of freeway claimed one of our own and I wouldn't want that to happen EVER again to anyone. Motorist who don't move over a lane away from the emergency vehicles (or even us for that matter) drive me insane! My anger comes out and I would REALLY like to throw a rock at the cars that don't move over. It is an educational experience to be out there when traffic is moving at 70+ MPH. I applaud the trucking companies that have taught their drivers to move over! Semi trucks ALWAYS moved over to the adjacent lane...and if they were unable to move over, they SLOWED down before cruising past us. Once we were done with the clean-up, we enjoyed a potluck lunch! 


Monday morning was back to the fire hall. We traveled to the school to visit with the second graders. The second grade has four sections. We combine two together for our session with them. I created a Fire Safety Jeopardy game for them to play. We divided the kids into three teams to play jeopardy. It was the first time I used the Jeopardy game with a class. I believe it went well! The kids seemed to have fun! I told them to go home after school and ask their parents to check the smoke detectors in their house (Do THIS once a month). 

I am grateful to the school for allowing us to come in and teach fire safety to the kids. Some schools do not allow that. I'm also grateful for teachers who believe this is an important subject for the kids to know. As long as the boys at the fire department need me to help out with fire prevention week...I'll keep doing it. 


Here is the final Jeopardy question I posed to the second graders:

Who can best prevent fires from occurring?

• A: Men, Women and Children
• B: Firefighters
• C: Police Officers
• D: Teachers

What would you pick?

Are You Richer than 75% of the World?

Have you truly ever stopped to think about all the things you have? A roof over your heard, a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, running water, heat/air conditioning, a computer, the ability to surf the Internet, your parents, your siblings (even if on occasion you want to hurt them), money, a job. These things are part of my every day world, but there are so many out there that do not even have a roof to sleep under or running water.

In a world with 6.6 BILLION people, we live in a world of diversity! What does diversity mean to you? Everyone can have their own definition on what diversity is. When it comes down to it though, diversity is the simple meaning of differences among people. Whether its a difference from where people come from, how they look, how they talk, what they do or how they think and view things, diversity is all of that. It's what makes everyone who they are and it's what makes everyone unique and their own individual. It's the exploration of different people and accepting one another for who they are. It's the understanding of individuals and respecting them for what they believe in and who they are. Everyone has their own background, their own ways of life and it all falls under diversity.

I ask that you watch the video posted in this blog.  It is mind numbing! What if you were one of the 100 in this miniature earth? Would you 75% richer than those around you?



Appreciate what you have and do your best for a better world! STRONG words!

Two Girls, Two Bikes....and a lot of goose poop?

Let me start off by saying I have a core group of girls that I consider to be my closest friends. Really...they are more than just friends. They are extensions of my family. I've known one for over 30 years (We were five when we met and we were at a BAR). Some I've been friends with since junior high, a couple have just been in the last ten years and one I've only known for the last three years (oh...we met in a bar too...hmmmm). As any friendship goes, there have been ups and downs...we fight, we make up. Our lives get too busy to talk, yet when we get a minute, we can pick up right where we left off. Their roles in our family are god-parents, "other moms," the other half of my brain, and villagers (It takes a village to raise a child...and I have a BIG one) These ladies all have a special place in my heart!

I'm singling one out for this blog (Be scared you other friends....you could be next). Three years ago, I met Jen. Her fiance, who seems to be a good judge of character, knew from   the minute he met me that Jen and I would become good friends. Upon meeting one another, we discovered we have MANY things in common. We come from similar family structures, our personalities are much alike (almost scary at times....right Jen?), we love the same things...the list goes on. Long story short (because there is a point to this blog), she and I are very close! 

During the spring semester at UMD, I was in a Health and Wellness class talking about SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realist and Timely) goals. As a part of the course work, we identified a health goal we would aim for. It could be as simple as becoming more flexible or as complicated as running Grandma's Marathon. As the time, I was working out once or twice a week, but didn't have any particular goal in mind. When looking for something that I thought I could physically do, I tripped upon the Aflac Iron Girl Series website. They were holding a duathlon (run/bike) in Bloomington in September, which at the time, was nine months away. I could visualize this as an attainable goal for myself...but having a friend do it with would make it even better. My first person I thought of was Jen. She worked out often and was just starting to run for 'fun.' =)

I sent her the information on the race and approached the matter as we needed to set a personal goal to aim for. Sure...we both were aiming for weight loss...but we didn't get more specific than that. She contemplated for a few days (I signed up for it right away) and finally decided that she too could do it! After all, there was NINE months to prepare for the race. Easy enough, right?

Training started - I started by focusing on the running, as I knew my biking would not be an issue. Jen focused on the running and didn't have a bike. I got a nasty cold five weeks into my training that knocked me out of the training routine for over a month. Each time we'd train, we let each other know what we had accomplished. We would have the occasional workout together, but much of our training was on our own. 

Summer brought about the purchase of a new road bike for me. What a purchase! I LOVE my bike. It did take a bit to get used to the non-suspension that I was used to with my mountain bike...but it cruised! Jen, still focusing on the running, borrowed a road bike from a friend. There were times when Jen thought she was not meant to ride that bike. After a few short trial rides, she needed to bring it to the shop for some repairs and some other things. Through it all...she was concerned about being able to do the full 22 miles required for the duathlon. I didn't have any fears about her being able to do it. She is more physically fit than I am! 

Over the summer months, we biked together all of TWO times. =) Once from Carlton to Mahtowa and once from 21st Ave E to the end of Park Point. This is our most memorable trip. AGAIN...something happened to JEN'S bike. She got a flat tire...6.5 miles away from the truck...and neither of us had an air pump. OH...and it was getting dark! We (wait, I) walked through goose poop in the park (barefoot), the shrubs tried to eat my bike, I tripped over a pipe (thought I broke my toes) and this was just in the first three miles of our walk back to the truck. WHAT A NIGHT! We giggled a lot that night!

Our training came to an end last Sunday (9/26). We fulfilled our goal! We competed in the Aflac Iron Girl Duathlon in Bloomington. Talk about an AMAZING experience! It is a day we will not forget. The day started early (4:45 AM). It was cold and a fog laid over the lake

Picture from Gretchen's hotel room overlooking Normandale Lake

we would run around. We prepared our bikes in the transition area. We prepared our bodies and minds for what lie ahead...and we jumped a lot to keep our bodies warm (Temp was 47). Before I knew it, it was race time. Jen and I, because of an age difference, started in different heats. My heat started at 7:55 and she didn't start until 8:15. It was hard to leave my duathlonUnless you've been in that starting chute, one cannot fully understand the power of being surrounded by women, much like yourself, who are trying something for the first time or even a second time. The mood is upbeat and positive! People who don't even know one another are cheering for each other (and don't forget those spectators along the roads). This continued onto the course as well. It was not unusual to hear, "Keep it up," "You're doing great," "You can do it," while people passed you. It was a challenging bike course. The run was mostly flat and rather enjoyable.

My thoughts for the first 2 mile run...."gotta get to my bike!" That's my strong point. I even had some encouragement from friends along the route. Once I got back to my bike...I was ready to GOOOOOOO! Had a great ride! Got back to the transition area and prepared for the last two mile run! I just couldn't run....I power walked the whole thing! I WALKED across the finish line with my kids cheering me on!!! Talk about ahh...mazing! Then I had to wait for Jen to cross. This was torture! I didn't have any idea on how she was doing, where she was in the race or worst of all, if she'd been hurt. Time dragged on...and then, there she was! She crossed the finish line (running, unlike me) with style and grace! It was so good to see her and to marvel at what we had just accomplished. With no specific overall time goal in mind, we both finished the race in under three hours! Our overall goals included: having fun, stepping outside the comfort zone of our workout routines, and crossing the finish line! All of which were successfully accomplished!

Jen and myself at the finish line!

In one monumental moment, we went from two girls with two bikes to the

QUACK-TASTIC 

IRON GIRL DUO!

Thank you Jen for coming on this adventure with me. It was an honor to stand by you at the finish line and congratulate one another on a job well done! It has been life changing experience. I look forward to the next adventure we find to challenge our bodies and minds. 

To those that are considering trying the Aflac Iron Girl Series, I strongly suggest you sign up. It is an experience you will never forget or regret. Remember, you control your destiny and you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. The following quote from James A. Worsham was included in an after event email from Aflac. "One of the biggest factors in success is the courage to undertake something." What will you undertake today?

Walking Down Destiny's Path

Think back....can you pinpoint one specific event that changed your perception of the world around you, challenged you to think outside the box or pointed you in a direction you never would have thought to go? Ever thought an event happened for a reason? 

My life has been filled with plenty of life changing events. My parents divorced when I was quite young. I moved around a lot. I got new "bonus" parents. There was high school, new friends, those changes girls go through, boys...but the ones that have had the greatest impact on my life are these:

• At 17, I became a mom.
• At 19, I became a wife.
• At 21, I became fatherless (my dad committed suicide).
• At 23, I became a mom to a second child.
• At 26, I became a member of a volunteer fire department.
• At 27, I became a widow.

Some of these events filled me with great joy. There is nothing like welcoming beautiful little girls into the world and watching them grow up, marrying the 'boy' you knew you wanted to spend the rest of your life with or dedicating your time to your community as a volunteer.

On the flip side, there's nothing worse than watching your father, who was nicknamed "Mighty Mouse", battle depression and multiple health issues, wishing you could do something for him. In the end, he did what he felt was best for him. The important part was that he loved us deeply, regardless of what was going on in our lives and being at peace with the knowledge that there was nothing we could say or do that would have changed the outcome.

Losing a parent, at any age, is difficult. Losing a spouse....especially at such a young age seems unbelievable. Possibly making it more unbelievable is the fact that the accident that claimed the life of my husband happened while we were at the scene of a car fire on Interstate 35. A chain reaction accident that claimed the life of one, severely injured four, and left all that were there that day emotional scarred is something no one should witness.

Yet, I did. I am living today to share a story and to teach a lesson. In future blogs, I will be sharing more about my story and why the Ted Foss Move Over Law is so important to me. I encourage people to ask questions about the subject matter. Don't be afraid to make comments or worry about hurting my emotional state. I have been through it all and I will GLADLY share my story. It's part of my healing process. Sharing my story and teaching about this matter is my destiny! =)

China Bound!

It's official! My youngest will be visiting China in the summer of 2011 as a People to People Student Ambassador. Her delegation leader left a phone message for her while we were out last night. Talk about one excited young lady!!!!

Now....the nerves have kicked in for the mom! :-) Tonight I started looking at the things she needs to have to be issued a passport. Two forms filled out...so far! Now....to find all the other paperwork to bring in. Birth certificate, SSN, driver's license and yes, a death certificate. Let the adventure begin!

Seventeen days in a foreign country....away from mom....exploring Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, and Hong Kong...experiencing the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Beijing Zoo (to see pandas), Terracotta warriors, a home stay, a service project...I'm tired just thinking about ALL the things they will do.

Will she even have time to miss us? Probably.........

Autumn has arrived

SIGNS THAT AUTUMN HAS ARRIVED:

• The air is crisp. 
• The leaves are changing. 
• The temps are dropping. 
• The heat is on in the house.

I'm a stickler when it comes to the heat in our house. I try quite hard to make sure the heat doesn't come on until October (so much for that idea) and that it is set at a reasonable temp (no higher than 68). I always think we can throw on an extra shirt instead of spending the extra money on heat. My kids don't seem to mind too much. Sixty-eight degrees in our house can feel different depending on which floor you are on. My room is in the basement. It often feels colder than 68 down there. This is also my homework space and general TV area for the kids. I have a small space heater that I use on occasion to just take the chill out. 

I am aware that this is warmer than some houses are kept. I have friends who keep their house at 64. Whenever we go there, we know to wear a sweatshirt with multiple layers. =) Often times, it doesn't matter what the temp is...it's about the company we are with!

Autumn also means packing up all the summer fun. I still need to head to the cabin to winterize it. I need to get the boat moved around in the garage so that we can park two vehicles in there again. I REALLY need to move my lawn at least ONE more time. The saddest part for me is putting away my deck furniture. I enjoy spending time on the deck, whether it is reading, enjoying a good dinner off the grill or play with the dogs.

http://www.irongirl.com/Events/Bloomington.htm#axzz10525EHTv

I will officially end summer next Sunday (9/26). I am competing in the Aflac Iron Girl Duathlon in Bloomington, MN. It is a 2 mile run/22 mile bike ride/2 mile run. I spent many hours on my bike this summer. I'm ready for the bike part. The running.....that's is where I struggle. I'm not a runner. I dragged along my friend Jen on this journey, although we have been unable to train together. She's the runner. I'm the biker. If it was a relay, we'd do AWESOME! =) I'm not going for time. I'm going to simply push myself to do something I've never done before. The scary part is not knowing what to expect or what exactly will happen as this is my first race EVER! Adrenaline will kick in and I'll be excited once the race starts. The goal is to have fun!

Sitting, Waiting, Creating destiny

My youngest is waiting for a phone call. It is a phone call that could result in her going down an adventuresome pathway. This past summer, Aly received a letter from People to People inviting her to spend 17 days exploring China in the summer of 2011. When I first told Aly about the opportunity, I figured she would be noncommittal, but she shocked me by stating that she REALLY wanted to go.

Aly at Enger Tower

I don't know if any of you have had any experiences with People to People (if you did, I'd love to hear your story), but I do know that it is an honor to be invited. A teacher or former People to People traveler has to recommend you for participation as a Student Ambassador. Someone out there thought highly enough of Aly's personality and talents to recommend her for global travel. To who ever you are....thank you!

Even though you get invited, there are steps that must be taken before you can be officially called a Student Ambassador. First, we attended the informational meeting prior to the start of school, during which time we learned what types of things they would be doing on their trip and the cost of the entire trip. Next, Aly had to get three letters of recommendation. She picked two teachers and her swim coach. Lastly, she had to interview with the Delegation Leader, who has the final say in whether Aly goes or not. Aly's interview was this past Wednesday night. She was told she would find out sometime Friday or over the weekend.

Hence....here she sits and waits and waits....

Yes, the trip is expensive...but a price cannot be put on the fact that she will be creating memories and friendships that will last her entire life. She'll view the world differently than her peers. She'll be experiencing human diversity at it's finest.

Even if she is not chosen to become a Student Ambassador, the experiences she has had to get to this point will help her to create her destiny. 

Starting off on the right foot...or left?

Here it is...the first day of school. As a mom...I am sending my oldest off to her last year of high school. This should be a great year for her. She's already been checking out colleges and is deciding which path she will travel down in the future. At one point she thought she'd be applying for UMD....but that's changed yet again (so I hear). Nothing much stands in her way...except when she procrastinates. I hope she got her summer reading done and actually hands it in. =) Sure would be great to start the year off with something other than an F in English. 

While one kid works on finishing high school, the other will be finishing elementary school. Sixth grade sure came quick. Aly is always excited for the adventure of school....friends, homework, challenges. Only one more week off and then she will get back into the swim routine too. Three nights a week back to UMD I will travel. The kid really is an otter. She LOVES the water.

Today...starts my second semester at UMD. Tackling another 17 credits. Should be interesting...although I'm up for the challenge of it all. The important thing is to always see the positive side. I challenge you this day to choose the thoughts that you permit to enter and reside in your mind. Ultimately they will create your destiny.