In The Paper

Check out today's Wisconsin State Journal...there is a GREAT article about my logrolling stuff on the back page of the sports section.  Thanks to John Nolan for such a wonderful write up!

Family Time

This is yet another picture that has nothing to do with anything I am writing about here.  Just thought it was a cute one.  This is later that evening from the BBQ....me, Jamie, Peter, and Erin chillin' on the porch.

Today is a day off from my triathlon class in the mornings.  It felt SO NICE to sleep in!  Yesterday we swam about two miles then biked for what seemed to be forever.  My swim cap came off halfway through the swim, so every time I tried to breath I would suck in a bunch of hair.  Lots of fun, let me tell ya.  It was such a beautiful day, so I tried to get most of the adapted fitness people outside.  Chad and I took Katie (a sweet, sweet girl who was in a serious car accident three years back) for a walk outside.  She was very tired from the workout on Wednesday, so we spent most of the time talking and enjoying the lake.

My cousin Della, her husband Mike, and their daughter Alexis are all in Madison this week.  They hung out and watched me and Olivia logroll at the beach for a while.  The fam visited me at work at Supreme last night as well.  They all got a chance to try logrolling at my logrolling class last night too.  That logrolling class has gotten to be so much fun.  I have several kids that are just INCREDIBLE.  I really hope they stick with it.  Last night Della made a sweet dinner.  First time there has been home cooking at my dad's house since my mom was at home about ten years ago! 

Today we are all going to go to the House on the Rock.  I've always found that place fairly boring...but maybe it is better this year. 

And now...to end today's post with a joke:

Toothpaste Inventor

Did you know that someone from Kentucky invented toothpaste? If anyone else would have invented it, it would be called "teethpaste".

 

Too Many Popsicles

 

This is a picture of my roommate Doug, me, and one of my best friends Erin at the Doug/Shana Barbeque two weeks ago.  It was so much fun...everybody agreed we need to do it again.  But next time we won't pile 16 people onto the porch swing until it rips out...

So this morning began pleasantly again at 6:30am at the lake.  We decided not to swim because of the incoming thunderstorm.  Tim had us do the circuit training workout from hell instead.  I think electrocution from a lightning bolt would have been nicer...

So I was planning to go logrolling after my other class (the adapted fitness class that I TA), but I was so beat all I could do was sit at home and eat popsicles.  Sure did feel good in the heat though. 

This evening I worked at Sports Med...very slow night again.  I am helping teach a Women's Weight Training class...those ladies are great!  They are so funny, definitely a great way to end the day.  After class we all stuffed ourselves with chocolate.  I like that kind of exercise class! 

Late tonight my dad is coming back into Madison with my cousin Della, her daughter Lexi, and her Husband Mike.  This weekend should be a sweet weekend.  I have nothing to do Friday, Saturday, and Sunday...so we are all going to do fun stuff.  Anybody up for Six Flags on Sunday? 

Alright, I'm going o bed...gotta get up bright and early to play in the lake!

Long Days

Yesterday I worked at Supreme from 9-4pm.  Logrolling last weekend killed me.  Although I got enough sleep, I was still exhausted and cranky all day.  I hate being cranky, and I'm sure others don't enjoy it when I'm cranky either.  After the busy hours at the health club, I went over to UW Sports Med to work a few more hours.  Luckily that wasn't too hectic and I got to relax a bit.  Surprisingly enough, I'm really learning a lot there.  I talked to Lisa, a girl I work with there, about exercising while pregnant.  (Don't worry daddy, I'm not pregnant...just read on before you call me freaking out...)  She is in charge of the "Two in Training" course at sports med, and exercising during pregnancy is a topic that is still fairly new to me.  Then we got to talking about being pregnant, raising kids, etc.  I hate it when conversations go in that direction.  I think I've mentioned before...as long as I can have a baby without being pregnant, and as long as the baby doesn't poop, I'm all up for having a kid.  Obviously I have a few more years before I am really ready for that.

So yeah, after sports med I taught Cardio Karate.  Since I am still fairly new to teaching, I've been having a lot of trouble with the battery pack I have to wear.  I finally found it comfortable to wear on the back of my pants...little did I know, my pants were loose and my right butt was hanging out during most of the class.  See, most people have those embarrassing moments on occasion, like maybe once a year.  Well, my moments happen daily. 

I just got back from two hours of swimming and running.  This triathlon class is for sure going to be the death of me.  I swam for the first time with a wetsuit today....what a difference!  You couldn't drown in that thing if you wanted to!  Plus I didn't come home chattering.  Alright off to class for me...then a fun day of cleaning my apartment, and my house! 

Sore Legs

I just got back from Stillwater/Blaine/Hudson/Hayward.  A small two-day trip turned into a weekend-long logrolling adventure.  On Friday we ended up not rolling because the ponds were overflowing after the storm.  So I watched Harry Potter (FINALLY) then went Minneapolis to visit Zach. 

Saturday we did a whole lot of nothing in the morning, then we (me, Travis, Jamie, Lori, Tyler, Tanya, and Julie) took the huge van out to Hayward.  After chilling with J.R. for a while, we all practiced the boom run for about two hours.  I don't know about the rest of them, but my body was SHOT after that.  I was in rough shape.  I took one dive on the boom where I slid across one of the logs on my chest...good thing I don't have much of a chest, or else that could have hurt pretty bad.  After we killed ourselves on the boom, we all went go-carting.  I was unaware that little Tyler thought it was demolition go-cart, while he proceeded to spin my car so hard it flew into the tires and I got stuck.  Okay, it was more funny if you were there.

Today I rolled with the guys for three hours...we did an exhibition for a grand opening of a retirement home.  A bit strange...and nobody really watched, so we just got a lot of good practicing in.  If my body wasn't fully destroyed from Saturday, it got finished off royally today.  During our breaks, we participated in some mud fights, as well as full contact river pigging.  So I did skip my triathlon today...to get in another day of logrolling, but it was well worth it. 

So I had an awesome weekend: perfected a new "jet technique" on the boom run, learned about Jamie's tendencies toward J.R. (and why J.R. will win the boom), got covered in mud and leaches, got ripped on constantly, and fell in love with a kitty named Loco.  Way too much fun, I don't want to go back to work tomorrow.

Up Nort eh?

After a very hectic week I'm going to head north to do some logrolling this weekend.  Tonight I actually get to hang out with Zach...which hardly ever happens, so I'm pumped.  Alright, I'm ready for the long drive and some LOGROLLING!  Wahoo!!!

Seaweed Woman

In some stage of dementia, I signed up for a "swimming for triathletes" class that meets at 6:30am each morning at the lake.  The class started Monday.  Now, this is great because I do need to work on my swim portion of the triathlon; BUT...did I mention the class is at 6:30 in the morning?  Plus, the lake is about 33 degrees...I would not be surprised if I swim into a chunk of ice.  But hey, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?  I would have posted more, but I've spent the past few days removing seaweed from parts of my body I didn't even know existed.

Yesterday (Tuesday) was also the first day of the Adapted Fitness class that I TA.  If anybody lives in the Madison area and is looking for an excellent volunteer opportunity, we need quite a bit of help.  I did get to meet a lot of new and interesting clients.  Each person's situation is individual, and I learn from every one of them.  Tara is also helping out with the class for the first two weeks.  She is so good with disabled people.  In fact, I haven't found a thing in this world that she isn't good at.  Maybe I should get her to try logrolling...

Speaking of logrolling, I went out to roll after my class yesterday.  Quade hung out with me for moral support.  It was a beautiful day, so many people stopped by to watch and learn about logrolling.  The funniest moment was when I crew shell went by in training.  The motor boat told them to take a rest and look at the shoreline, "I have never seen anything like this before...welcome to Wisconsin folks."  They were out of state training for some huge race.  As Brian so politely said yesterday, it's probably pretty freaky for somebody to walk by and see a girl on a log.  So now I'm a freak, super.  Not only is it a hardcore project to get Brian off of his bike for 5 minutes to hang out, now he's calling me a freak. 

I'd like to say a huge congrats to one of my best buddies Travis, who will be a daddy in January.  I can't believe this.  My friends are all becoming parents.  I don't even have a boyfriend...I think I'm a bit behind.  Travis will be a great dad...I just can't wait to watch him change the first poopy diaper.  I need to get that on tape. 

Alright, break is over...back to class. 

New Website

For those of you who haven't noticed...I have a new website!!!  It's still the same address (www.shanamartin.com) but now up on a different server.  All the thanks in the world goes to Mike Betz for laying out the template and doing all of the creative stuff here.  Take some time to look around, there are new pictures in every section.  I still have a lot of little things to do, such as add some captions, change some fonts, and put together the links page.  If you know of a site that should be linked, please let me know.  I can be reached though my contact page. 

I've also made a fairly big decision today.  I am not going to participate in the fitness competitions in August and September.  No worries, I have many reasons.  First of all, I would like to focus on my logrolling training...not dieting and starving myself.  I would also like to come back with a bigger "bang" than I think I could provide with the little time I have to prepare over the summer.  Plus, this is my last free summer!  Every summer for the rest of my life I will have a 9-5 job!  I need to have a little bit of fun in my life. 

Please bookmark this page and check back often.  I will have new pictures uploaded every week, and hopefully a new blog entry everyday. 

The new website should be up in the next 24 hours. Read the blogger for now and hang tight!!!

Look Out

"Cats are going to take over the world.  They are planning to poop on everybody's beds, then, while humans are cleaning the poop, cats will take over the world." 
- My very insightful roommate Doug

Lazy Days

Yesterday I finally picked up the futon from Tara's.  We finally made our porch livable!  Kitty loves it too.  :)

My dad and I also put the logs into the lake.  It is going to be a BIG hassle to get them out of the water after I roll.  Hopefully I can find an easier way.  I'm all bruised and sore from doing it yesterday.

Diet...so far not so good.  It usually takes a bit of time to get into though.  

Okay, more random stuff.  I decided to compete in the open gymnastics division at the Badger State Games!  I will probably do vault (yep I will vault) and bars.  It's totally the old fogies division, so it should be a blast.  Gotta get into the gym and start training!  I'm trying to talk Christine and Doug into competing too. 

Tomorrow is my first triathlon of the summer.  I'm a bit nervous seeing as I haven't ridden my bike or swam since last September.  Hopefully I will survive it!

Today is a day full of graduation parties!  So...I'm outtie!

Back To the Busy Life

    I realized that I haven't posted many pictures on here recently.  I just got my pictures developed from Duke and the convention, so I think I will randomly put them up here.  This is a pic of Jeff and I at a Baseball game in Durham, NC.  His team won...hell if I know who they were.  Despite the fact that I look completely stoned, I was not using drugs. 

    So here I am, sitting at home, contemplating where I will go for my run.  I have been contemplating this for the past hour now....
I'll get going eventually.  I've just been having a lot of fun with my pictures. 
    Okay, I have some fun stories.  Last night I taught my very first cardio karate class!  It was only a practice class for the other instructors, but I was still super nervous.  It ended up going really well!  I have for sure found something that I love to do.  I have a feeling I'm loud enough without that microphone on though.  :) 
    My diet started yesterday.  So far so good.  No major cheats yet.  I'm going to go much easier on myself than I did last summer though.  I was one cranky lady all summer long.  Since this is actually my LAST summer vacation, I need to enjoy it at least a little.  On that scary note, yesterday I was talking to my friend about a spring break trip...only to realize I don't have any more spring breaks.  Real world is approaching in less than 7 months.  Yikes. 
    So I think I mentioned that I'm in this outdoor class.  It is WAY too much fun.  I don't think I deserve to get credits for it.  Anyway, today we did some team building stuff.  All sorts of crazy games and what not.  I realized that I can be kind of loud when I want to...must work on that.  Tomorrow, even though it will be storming in the morning again (it hasn't stopped raining in 3 days) we will do a low ropes course.  Then on Thursday we hit the high ropes.  I'm so pumped! 
    I should have my logs in the water by Friday.  I am so excited to train.  Although rolling around on a log for a few hours may not sound very entertaining...I've really come to enjoy it.  It would be nice if I had more people in Madison to train with.
    Still procrastinating for this run.  I think I'd better get going.  Have a great day! 

HDSA Convention

Last weekend I left for the Huntington's Disease Society of America's National convention in Columbus, Ohio.  Since I had my outdoor class that morning, my dad and I arrived a bit late on Thursday night.  (Thank you SO MUCH Megan for covering the logrolling class by the way).

Friday morning I was one of the panel speakers for the Family Forum.  I got to talk for about twenty minutes and answer questions later on.  It was such a wonderful experience!  Talking in front of that group of people was much easier than talking to any other...they really knew where I was coming from.  Afterwards, the CEO of HDSA asked if I would be willing to be on the Huntington's Disease Society of America's speakers bureau.  What an honor!  That night I also gave an "inspirational" talk to a smaller group of people for a closing session.  

Saturday morning I led a walk through the Columbus downtown area, which was BEAUTIFUL!  We walked down by the river and took a break at a replica of the Santa Maria.  I talked a bit about the importance of physical activity for everybody, not just HD patients, but also caregivers, children, etc.  I hope I got through to some...if not, we still had a great time.  I spent the rest of the afternoon sleeping and preparing for the National Youth Alliance Silent Auction.  That evening I led a breakout session for youth.  We talked about some great things; got a lot out into the open.  After throwing a dress on (yes, I wore a dress) I went to the reception and helped with the Silent Auction, which was VERY successful.  Want a total raised?  Check this out...$2,931!!!  Since that doubles with the research fund, we earned $5,862 for HDSA!  The Banquet was very nice...very yummy dinner.  I was a bit upset because they took away my extra dessert before I was ready to eat it.  Bastards.  Then...the greatest part of the convention...the dancing!  I'm sure I've said this before, but I need to bring it up again.  This is not just any dance, the is probably the most diverse family on the floor ever.  Little kids, teens, preteens, adults, people with HD, folks in wheelchairs, elderly, EVERYBODY was out dancing.  Nobody cared how good they were at dancing (especially Doug from the Ohio Chapter) they were just out there to have a good time.  A memory that will probably always stay in my head is a wonderful man dancing with his wife who was fairly advanced in the disease.  She did not talk, and had a lot of trouble walking, but he held her close and danced with her a good part of the night.  Imagine holding the one you love for so long, yet they are not the same person you danced with at your wedding.  It reminded me so much of the love my dad has for my mother.  There were many emotional moments like that over the weekend.

Sunday morning I led a National Youth Alliance Roundtable and we discussed several plans for the upcoming year...while eating MANY doughnuts.  Doughnuts are dangerous.  We had one more support group meeting (where most of the time was spent ripping on the Backstreet Boys...those losers) then the convention was over.  A LONG drive home (I slept most of the way of course) followed.  When I got home Mike showed my the layout of my new website that we are making.  It's going to be sweet!!! Although, I don't know how cool it will be if I dedicate a whole page to Jeff, like he wants.  :)

Today I'm going to the hardware store to get some chains and hooks to get some of my logs out by the lake.  Training will start soon!!!  Oh yeah...the diet from hell started from hell.  I apologize if there are several very cranky posts about food up soon.