TracyPerlman.com

Catching Up

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:43:07 -0500

I’ve been staring at my laptop for about an hour now. I haven’t blogged in months and the pressure is mounting. Part of me feels like I don’t have anything interesting to write about. Part of me feels like I’m going to explode if I don’t start writing something.

I suppose I can share some of the amazing things I’ve been up to in the past two months. I still ride my scooter almost every day. I love it more than I thought I would. I sometimes wish it would go faster.

The Twins season has been going well. The new ballpark is amazing. Still with every game I’ve been to, people are smiling, the food is amazing and even when it rains, people are happy to be there. Friday night Target Field held its first fireworks show. The weather couldn’t have been better, sunny and in the 70’s. When the game ended, Twins beat the Tampa Bay Rays, then the stadium went dark. Only the Minnie and Paul neon sign and Twins logo above the videoboard stayed lit. From the parkinglot behind the right field, bursts of color exploded above the stadium. It was amazing. The show looked great. It was much better than I anticipated. Especially because the beautiful downtown Minneapolis skyline was draped behind it. Here’s a link to a video my friend Peter took of the fireworks.

On Saturday I went to the Twins game with my Grandma for her birthday. At 87 years old, I think she was way more excited than she let up to be. After weeks of worrying about how she’d get to the seats with her walker, what would happen if the weather was too hot, or rainy and every other crazy scenario, we went to the game. The staff at Target Field could not have been any more accommodating. We explained it would be more difficult for her to get to her seats because of her walker, but they arranged for us to sit in a handicapped section so she could not only sit in the shade, but wouldn’t have to deal with stairs. I got her a hot dog and chips and we sat in the cool air conditioning of the Kirby Puckett lounge in the Ledgend’s Club.

The pregame was amazing we enjoyed music from a military band and five sky divers dropped into Target Field to deliver the game ball. Nanny loved it. The energy at Target Field was electrifying. When Jim Thome walked up to the plate, he knocked the ball out of the park. That home run tied Harmon Killebrew’s major league record for career home runs. It’s a huge deal. As if it were scripted, Thome’s next at-bat was a home run too. He swung himself into the MLB record books. It is definitely one moment I will always remember. My grandma got so excited too. The Twins lost the game, but the experience of the day is something I’ll never forget.

This summer I’ve spent more time enjoying and exploring Minneapolis. My work schedule has changed, so I’m once again working overnights. I didn’t know if I would enjoy it as much as I have. Like any show, there are challenges, but there are many benefits too. Yes, I go into work at 10 p.m. and yes, I sleep most of the day. However, I can enjoy the morning to go for a walk, or run errands. The city is still quiet and calm. Then I wake up around 5 or 6 and start my day. I can meet friends for dinner, get stuff done around my apartment, or catch up on TV and the news of the day. I’m not necessairly more productive now than I was before, but I’ve found a different way to go about my day. There are some benefits too, for instance, my weekends start at 7 a.m. on Friday mornings.

A week ago, my friend Megan came to town for her birthday. We did all of my favorite things: saw live music, ate at great local restaurants, biked around the Minneapolis river front and shopped. It was really nice to just enjoy the Cities. I’ll post pics of our adventure later!

I have to get ready for work now…

My scooter. I love it. I’m taking it downtown for the...

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:42:32 -0500

My scooter. I love it.

I’m taking it downtown for the first time tomorrow.

Wish me luck.

Running: My New Game Plan

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:50:00 -0500

It’s time to get serious… about running. I went for a ~~run,~~ ~~jog~~ brisk walk with my running coach Heather. I’m afraid I disappointed her. I know I was a little disappointed in myself. However, she did give me some good advice which I’ve been thinking about.

Lately I haven’t been consistent with running. I have a schedule on my refrigerator, but I haven’t been good about sticking to it. Because I haven’t been consistent, I’ve almost regressed in running. I definitely haven’t improved.

That’s about to change.

I don’t need to run every day, but I’ve got to be consistent. I like exercizing, I just haven’t been willing to rearrange my schedule to work it in. Heather suggested picking four days a week (Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday) and blocking out time to run those days. It’ll make it possible for me to work out in the mornings and still go see music at night. Also, with consistency, I need to get on a better sleep schedule. That means going to bed by midnight and waking up by 9 a.m. That will help give me time in the mornings to get other stuff done like running errands, catching up on the news and getting ready for my day.

If anyone can do this - I can too. What I mean by that is anyone can run. You get better with practice. When I started I could barely run 20 seconds without having to stop. I eventually ran a minute, then three, then five, then ran a whole mile. My inconsistency has only stopped myself from being able to run farther and longer. I’ve found running is a lot like golf, you improve every time you go out. You are also only competing with yourself. You don’t need anyone else to do it. No one knows how you’re doing but yourself. That means you have to push yourself to continue to improve and not quit because you’re scared. I think it’s okay to ask for help and support. I need to get better at doing that.

Remember your goals and it’s okay to change them. When I decided I was going to become a runner I had all these lofty goals. I was going to run a half marathon, then I decided to sign up for three. I also signed up for two 5ks and a 7k along the way. It’s hard. I’m surrounded by inspirational people who have worked their butt off to become good runners and they make it look easy. I thought I could do it too and it would be easy for me. Now my goals have changed. If I’m ready I’ll run the half marathons this summer. But now I want to focus on running 5ks. I don’t need to run more than three miles at any given time. It’s long enough. Once I get the 5k down, I’ll focus on running them faster, more frequently and in different places. After that, I’ll work on longer distances.

I don’t look at these changes as a cop out. I think it’s a step in the right direction. My goals and expectations are much more realistic and manageable. Now instead of being overwhelmed, I can take it one day at a time without giving up anything that I like.

I start now.

Opening Day: Better than anticipated!

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:46:11 -0500

Goodbye Metrodome, you old palace of plastic. Hello Target Field, you beautiful outdoor ballpark!

Opening Day was better than I anticipated. I wore my sunglasses, brand new throwback jersey and hooded sweatshirt. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Honestly, is there anything better than having the wind blow in your hair while watching baseball? There were fireworks, flyovers and people squinting into the sun. I saw Mayors RT Rybak and Chris Coleman practice the “Minney and Paul” dance. The Twins played well - Joe Mauer hit two doubles, Jason Kubel hit a home run and Nick Punto made some great catches. The Twins beat the Red Sox 2-5. I have no complaints.

It’s hard to explain how awesome the experience was, so here are my highlights:

Everyone was happy. No matter where you looked, people were smiling, laughing, standing in awe. It was so obvious this ballpark was long needed. Twins fans are proud of their team, proud of their city and proud of Target Field.
The food selections = AWESOME. I had a the Twins big dog, a grilled all beef hot dog with grilled onions and potato chips. Yum! The Bud Light even tasted good. My buddy Peter and I also tried the cheese curds. Other food I want to try: nachos (they came in a bowl with yummy toppings), roasted corn on the cob, soft serve ice cream, Manny’s Steak Sandwich… okay, I’ll stop drooling now.
The opening ceremonies were sentimental. Twins greats included Tony Oliva, Harmon Killebrew, Kent Hrbek, Bert Blyleven and Frank Viola. Kirby Puckett’s son, Kirby Junior participated in his father’s behalf. Al Newman showed up to raise a championship flag. It was great. And on cue, the wind picked up and each flag blew proudly in the wind.
Acoustics in the ballpark are phenominal. Unlike the Dome or other outdoor stadiums I’ve been to, there was no echo from the loud speakers. From the 300 level and way out in right field, I could hear the crack of the bat on the field. In fact a small crowd started chanting in right field. We could hear them.
HD video screen. The picture quality is so crisp. The graphics used are phenominal. They did use a mockup graphic from the Dome - it was so bad it was good. During the game the screen is designed to look like a classic scoreboard with a TV screen build into it.
The new ballpark has 40% more women’s bathrooms. At more than one bathroom I saw lines 3 times longer for the men’s room than the women’s. Victory.
Leaving the stadium was a smooth process. I was impressed with how quickly you can get in and out of the stadium.

Overall I was so impressed with how awesome everything went. The one lesson I learned is to not wear lipgloss. Sticky lips + breeze = hair sticking to your lips (that’s just not a good look).

"Baseball, to me, is still the national pastime because it is a summer game. I feel that almost all..."

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:31:00 -0500

“Baseball, to me, is still the national pastime because it is a summer game. I feel that almost all Americans are summer people, that summer is what they think of when they think of their childhood. I think it stirs up an incredible emotion within people.”

- I know it’s been two weeks since I’ve last logged on. I wish I had some exciting stories to share, but truth is, I really don’t. I went to Chicago and surprised my best friend Amy for her birthday. It was a great weekend - we enjoyed the weather, saw a movie and went out with some fun people.

Tomorrow is the Twins first real game at Target Field. I’ll be there. I’m so excited. I may not have the greatest tickets, but it doesn’t matter. Just being inside a ball park on opening day is so exciting. The crowd and energy is electrifying. I can’t wait. The Twins have had a great start to the season despite it being on the road with two strong teams, the Angels and the White Sox.

This season will be fun. A new stadium, great players and amazing weather. Play ball!

My Twins Tickets: For Sale!

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:25:00 -0500

Want to go to a Twins game but don’t want to risk buying scalped tickets off the street? Have no fear: I’ve listed a few of the tickets for Twins games I can’t attend on Stub Hub. Here’s the info if you or anyone you know would like to buy them.

My seats are in the 300 level, even with third base, beautiful view of downtown and in the sun. They’re actually much closer to the field than you’d expect. See my last blog post for info on my seats, or I can send you more.

I listed the price for both tickets after the game info (that is the price for two tickets). Those prices are either the average price or below the average price of what other tickets are selling for on Stub Hub for that specific game. I am willing to negotiate prices.

Seats: Sec 321 Row 5, seats 3 & 4
Most games are Mon-Thursdays. I can’t attend them because I work.

~~April 2nd vs STL @ 5:10 ($30)~~ (SOLD)
~~May 6th vs BAL @ 7:10 ($50)~~ (SOLD)
~~May 11th vs CHI @ 7:10 ($60)~~ (SOLD)
~~May 26th vs NYY @ 6:10 ($100)~~ (SOLD)
June 9th vs KC @ 7:10 ($45)
Ju~~ly 16th vs CHI @ 7:10 ($60)~~ (SOLD)
July 20th vs CLE @ 7:10 ($50)
~~Aug 17th vs CHI @ 7:10 ($50)~~ (SOLD)
Sept 2nd vs DET @ 7:10 ($50)

You can post a comment to this post for more info… or e-mail me: tracyperlman@gmail.com.

Imagine, if you will, sitting outside, sun on your face, people...

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:05:00 -0500

At Target Field

Beautiful Downtown Minneapolis

Dad takes in Target Field

View from my seats

Seats in the sun!

My first hot dog at Target Field

Imagine, if you will, sitting outside, sun on your face, people around you talking baseball. You have a cold drink in one hand and a hot dog in the other. In front of you, a sparkling brand new baseball stadium. The field is covered, but it doesn’t matter, you know great things will happen on it. In the distance, downtown Minneapolis stands as the perfect backdrop. The video board is showing a live baseball game. Next to it, the Twins flag waves proudly in the wind.

Is this heaven? No, it’s Target Field.

Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but the truth is, Target Field is amazing. As a season ticket holder, I got a sneak peek to the stadium. Wow. The first thing I noticed was how accessible the field is. I walked all around the stadium, from the seats behind home plate, to the outfield, I even checked out three different spots in the upper decks. All had a great view of the field! I kept thinking, “Yup, I could sit here,” and “I’d love to watch a game from this spot.” Did I mention the seats all turn inward towards home plate?

My seats are up in the 300 level even with third base. They’re great. I can see the entire field, giant video board and the downtown skyline. The field doesn’t seem that far away because the seats are tiered, like the Xcel Center. I sat in my seats for about 20 minutes watching the Twins spring training game on the video board, squinting into the sun and smiling.

In fact, everyone I saw at Target Field today was smiling - and it was before they knew Joe Mauer agreed to an 8-year-deal!!

This summer will be awesome.

Only in Minnesota. I went for a walk around Lake Calhoun today....

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:34:47 -0500

Only in Minnesota.

I went for a walk around Lake Calhoun today. It was amazing. I know, it’s early March. I live in Minnesota. Am I crazy? Absolutely not! Although, it was an “only in Minnesota” experience.

We had record tips in the Twin Cities. The mercury went all the way up to 64 degrees. Not too shabby. However, there’s still plenty of snow on the ground. The lakes are still frozen over. None the less, there were no clouds in the sky and I wasn’t going to stay in my apartment.

I put on my running shoes and headed to the lake. A short two block walk later I was there. Ahh, fresh air! Sunshine, my old friend, how I have missed you! There’s nothing better. As I made my way onto the path, I couldn’t help but notice, everyone plus their mom was out. I had to swerve in and out of people. It was a great problem!

I couldn’t help but notice how great it felt to wear a t-shirt and not be shivering. After a few minutes I came up to the playground. There were dozens of kids playing on the swings, slides and climbing on the equipment. I couldn’t help but laugh. The lake is still frozen over. People were ice sailing on it. Apparently there’s still 22 inches of ice on Lake Calhoun.

Only in Minnesota would there be a full ice on a lake, and kids playing on a playground while adults ran by in tank tops and t-shirts.

It’ll probably snow again in two weeks. So I’m going to take this opportunity to enjoy the weather. You should too.

Music for Everyone to Enjoy

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:29:40 -0600

Minnesota is widely known for a few things: silly ‘oh-don’t-cha-know-it’ accents, being REALLY nice and having an awesome music scene.

I rarely blog about stories we do at work, but tonight we did a really cool story. We featured a local band, the Melismatics and took a look at their music. Literally.

The Melismatics are one of the hottest bands in the Twin Cities right now, and becoming a top Indie-Rock group in the country. They’re always on the road. I blogged about them a few months ago. Their songs are featured on TV shows and they tour the country. If you are lucky enough to see them live, you’ll notice the band rocks out hard on stage.

The stage show isn’t just because they’re really into their songs. It’s so others can hear their music. Pony, the co-lead singer, has deaf parents. She wanted them to enjoy her music because they couldn’t hear her. So she signs a lot as she sings and moves with the music so they can hear the rhythm. In my opinion, it makes their performances that much cooler.

You can watch Liz Collin’s story here (and pay attention, you’ll hear my voice).

Let the training begin! I’ve got about 13 weeks until the...

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:58:10 -0600

Let the training begin! I’ve got about 13 weeks until the Minneapolis Half Marathon! Yikes! That means it’s time to get my butt in gear. I found a few different training charts online and have decided this is what I’m going to do. It’s based on Hal Higdon’s schedule.

I think it’s do-able. It’ll be hard, but it seems to move slowly, so I’ll be able to keep up. The weather is starting to get really nice, so I’m hoping to start going outside for the 3-4 mile runs. It’s 3 miles around Lake Calhoun, so I’ll use that for my shorter runs.

After being in pain all of last week and limping through Thursday, I’m feeling 100% better. (*Note to self, don’t get a deep tissue massage on Tuesday, spend Wednesday with your trainer doing lunges and Thursday morning with your physical therapist working on strengthening exercises, it’ll leave you in a lot of pain.)

I was able to run today virtually pain-free. It’ll make starting my new schedule much easier. Yay! Grab your shoes! Here we go!!

It's a horribly sad day.

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:18:00 -0600

I just received horribly sad news. My friend and co-worker, Darcy Pohland died unexpectedly in her sleep last night. It doesn’t even seem real. I can’t wrap my head around it. I also can’t stop crying.

I can say, without a bit of hesitation I would not be who I am, or where I am without Darcy.

I’ve known Darcy since I was in high school. She took a chance on a kid she had met through e-mail. A teacher told me Darcy was an old student of hers and that if I wanted to know more about working in TV, I should contact her. So I sent an e-mail. We continued to e-mail back and forth for about a year. Then in 2003, Darcy agreed to volunteer her time and mentor me my senior year. She was the first one who encouraged me to do what I’m doing now.

I knew nothing about TV. I spent almost every day with her. Going to WCCO was by far my favorite part of the day. I dreamed of working here, calling Darcy a coworker. Little did I know that dream would become a reality in a few years.

Darcy helped me get my first internship, which led to my second one, and that eventually led to the job I have now. Despite all the talks we’ve had throughout the years, I’m not sure she really knew how much I admired her. Darcy was my true first journalism teacher, but along the way Darcy taught me much more than about life.

Darcy was an eternal optimist. One summer in college, Darcy broke her neck after diving into a swimming pool. Regardless of losing the ability to use her legs and having minimal ability in her arms, Darcy never complained about it. She never let using a wheelchair stop her from doing anything. Rain, snow, sandy riverbanks, nothing was out of the question for Darcy. She couldn’t say no… and you couldn’t say no to her.

She was always happy. Always. Darcy had a light around her, she’d whiz by on her wheelchair say hi, and you’d smile. Her laugh was infectious, her smile beamed. In fact, I don’t remember her ever complaining about having a bad day. It’s a lesson we all should learn.

Going to work today is going to be terribly hard. Darcy was a rock and source of knowledge in the newsroom. She was a tried and true Vikings and Gopher fan. I will always remember her strength, passion, optimism and wit. I’m so thankful a few weeks ago I was able to tell her how much her friendship has meant to me throughout the years. It won’t ever replace the hole in my heart because she’s no longer with us.

I’ll be eternally grateful for Darcy’s guidance and friendship all these years. She’s been such an inspiration and I will miss her so very, very much.

You can read more about Darcy here.

100 days. That’s how long I have until I lace up my shoes...

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:49:49 -0600

100 days.

That’s how long I have until I lace up my shoes and remind myself I want to run 13.1 miles. I still don’t know why I thought running a half marathon was a good idea. I’ve been training for three months and can only run a mile before I have to stop and slow down to a fast walk.

It’s starting to hit me. 13 miles is a long distance. I’m getting pretty scared, actually. I’m hoping to not pass out and die during the half marathon. I also hope my calf and hip are feeling better so I can actually do it. The good news is Team Ortho is sponsoring the half marathon, so if I have to, I can walk and not get penalized. I really appreciate that.

Training has been a long and slow process, but I think I will eventually be a runner. I’m already seeing results. I want to run a 5k without stopping by the time April rolls around. That’s 3 miles, or once around Lake Calhoun for those of you living in the Twin Cities.

But first things first: I have to run the Get Lucky 7k. Oh, and I have to stop signing up for races.

Let me start by saying I am a Royals fan. For 6 years I lived in...

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:08:00 -0600

Let me start by saying I am a Royals fan. For 6 years I lived in or close to Kansas City and went to too many Royals games to count. Slugerrr and I have a close and special relationship.

With that said - TMZ says it best: “MLB Mascot Accused of Gruesom Weiner Attack .”

Apparently at a game last September, Slugerrr climbed atop the 3rd base (away team) dugout and tossed out hot dogs. This isn’t unusual. In fact, I often sat above that dugout and caught and ate many of those free dogs.

A man says Slugerrr threw out a hot dog and hit him in the eye.

As a result, he’s suffered a detached retina and developed cataracts. He’s suing the Royals for more than $25,000 for negligence and battery.

Uh, dude, you’re at a baseball game. If you didn’t notice a huge fake 7-foot lion tossing hot dogs into the cheering crowd around you, you were either too drunk or too dumb to be in the stands.

Does it suck you were knocked in the face with a flying piece of meat? Yes. Though, I can only imagine how bruised your ego must be, if your eye is that damaged.

I feel bad for Sluggerrr. He didn’t intentionally or maliciously throw a hot dog in this guy’s face. Hell, maybe he thought he looked hungry. Sluggerrr is there to entertain us and give out free food between innings.

Furthermore, If you go to a baseball game, the back of your ticket will say something to the extent of ‘be advised, if you get hit with a bat or ball we’re not responsible.’

I know it’s not the same, but I think it should be.

For those who actually know me, you know I’m obsessed with four things: 1. The Minnesota...

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:53:00 -0600

For those who actually know me, you know I’m obsessed with four things:

1. The Minnesota Twins

2. The Backstreet Boys

3. Anything that’s pink or shiny

4. Michael Buble.

Today, I’m focusing on #4.

I stumbled upon my extensive Michael Buble collection tonight. I don’t know what it is about his voice, it’s so… um, what’s the word? Oh yes, PERFECT.

It’s like a blanket… soft, warm, silky and fuzzy. You just want to wrap yourself up in his music and burrow deeper into it. Or like warm chocolate cake, it’s so fresh, creamy and rich, you just want more. I don’t know what it is about his music, but it makes me so happy. No matter the song, my mind goes to late summer or early fall in St. Paul. The air is crisp and warm, there aren’t pesky bugs or anything to distract you. More specifically, it’s night on an outdoor patio, with a bonfire pit and glass of red wine.

Ahh, bliss.

I’ve seen Michael Buble in concert twice. The first time was in 2003 at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis. He was a nobody then, but I had his CD and drove my friends crazy listening to it. There couldn’t have been more than 200 people at the show, my brother and I were definitely the youngest in the crowd. About half way through the show someone took a picture and the flash went off. Michael stopped the show and hopped off the stage to take a real picture with them. It was great. He shared stories, interacted with the audience and looked so happy on stage.

A year or two later I saw him at Orchestra Hall. It was a bigger show. He was a bigger name. He tried to interact with the audience, but it’s hard when you’re performing to a couple hundred people. The passion was still there though.

I still love his music as much as I ever have. It still sounds full and happy and classic. His tour is coming back through the Twin Cities this spring. He’ll be playing the Xcel Center to a couple thousand people. As much as I’d love to see his show, I don’t know if I’d enjoy it as much as I know I could. Not after the intimate experience I had a few years ago.

That’s the problem with good music. You find it and embrace it. Then it catches on and all of a sudden everyone loves it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to be among the first, to say you’ve been there the whole time, but you lose that special connection.

Luckily I can still enjoy his music without seeing his concert. Listening to his music tonight, I feel calm and happy. It’s like an instant happy spot you can take on the go.

And that’s exactly what I intend to do. Take my iPod and listen to his music this summer on a patio in St. Paul.

Don’t you love watching half court shots? Wanna see 4 in a...

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:06:00 -0600

Don’t you love watching half court shots? Wanna see 4 in a row? Spontaneous and UNEDITED?

The Kansas Jayhawks start shooting (and sinking) half-court shots during a recent practice. The first one was made by Minneapolis’ own Cole Aldrich.

Rock Chalk baby!

Catching Up

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:45:38 -0600

Oh my gosh, has it really been two weeks since I’ve blogged? Wow, where has time gone?

So here’s what’s been going on:

Twinsfest

I didn’t think I could step back in there. I’m talking about the Metrodome. We had too many memories. Too many times it lifted me up, then broke my heart. I saw the best and saddest games this past season at the Dome. #163 was amazing. Walking home that night, I felt like I was flying. I was also there for the final game against the Yankees. I saw that game with my friend Peter. We sat there for a good 15 minutes after the final pitch, just staring at the field. Like the ghosts of Kirby Puckett and the other Twins greats were going to walk out onto the field and demand a re-do.

I made it back into the Dome. I couldn’t help but think “Thank God!” when I saw the teflon sky. I can’t wait to sit outside, breathe fresh air, wear sunglasses (or a sweatshirt) and watch baseball on real grass. After feeling as though I was vindicated and upgraded, I enjoyed a Dome Dog. My dad got to meet one of his favorite pitchers Bert Blyleven, I said hi to my old buddy Jim “Mudcat” Grant and met my favorite Twins legend, Tony Oliva.

My collection of autographed baseballs is starting to get a little obnoxious. I’ll have to find somewhere else to start putting them.

I also decided to fulfill a life-long goal of becoming a Twins season ticket holder. I purchased a partial-season (just 20 games) in the upper deck along the 3rd base side. I can see the field just fine, I can see downtown and I’m right in the sun. I can’t wait!

Running

I hurt my leg again. I’ve been trying to run 3-4 days a week, and I’m doing really well at staying on track. Two weeks ago I ran a mile without stopping. Then two days later I ran a mile and a half. Now my calf hurts. I’ve been trying to rehab it and not let it get too irritated. So far, it’s been a slow and painful recovery. It’s also been frustrating because the more I want to push myself, the more hurt I get.

In the mean time, I’ve signed up for another race. I’m doing the Get Lucky 7k on March 20th. It’s 4.3 miles and it’s outside. The race is through Team Ortho, so I can walk it if needed. I’m hoping to run the first mile, walk/run the second and third, then run the fourth to finish.

Heather says I’m doing too many races and I’m cut off now. I like the races. They give me something to work towards. If my calf doesn’t feel better, I won’t be doing this race though. We’ll just have to see how it goes.

Etc…

I’ve also been thinking about putting together a cookbook. Nothing crazy. In fact, it’d be quite simple. My favorite recipes all put into one place. I want to take pictures of some of the dishes, organize them into a clean, simple format, then get it bound and printed. It’ll make a great gift. Who knows? Maybe I’ll sell a few copies and donate the money somewhere. It’ll be a great side project.

You're Invited...

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:44:00 -0600

Looking to have rockin’ good time on Valentine’s Day… but don’t have a sweetie? No worries!! You should check out the TweetCrawl (round 2). Yup, we’ll be meeting up again this Sunday!

Not sure what a TweetCrawl is? Don’t feel bad, it’s simple. A TweetCrawl is essentially an opportunity to socialize, drink and not leave home. Throw your feet up, have a drink, take a picture and tweet it. Just don’t forget the #tweetcrawl hashtag! Then follow the trending to jump in on the conversation. Warning: things got a little crazy last time!

Every once in a while, we’ll all meet up. That’s what we’re doing on Sunday. It’s a great way to meet fellow Tweet-heads and network with some really cool people in the Twin Cities.

Here’s your opportunity to join in on the fun. We’re meeting at Loring Kitchen from 6 - 9:30 pm this Sunday (Feb 14th). There’ll be drink specials ($3 taps among other things). You can RSVP right here. And, duh, invite your friends!!

So I’m no model… by anyone’s standards....

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:49:00 -0600

So I’m no model… by anyone’s standards. However, today I sure felt like one.

My amazing and talented friend/coworker Erica took my picture for a work thing. Ok, here’s a hint: it’s for our new website: The Wire.

None the less, these are some of our favorite pictures we took today. They’re awfully pretty if I do say so myself.

I’m not fishing for compliments and trying to toot my own horn. I’m simply sharing something I’m proud of… and that’s the great work Erica did.

I ran 1.5 miles! I ran 1.5 miles!! I, Tracy Perlman, ran 1.5 miles before slowing down. And I only...

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:44:36 -0600

I ran 1.5 miles! I ran 1.5 miles!!

I, Tracy Perlman, ran 1.5 miles before slowing down.

And I only slowed down to tie my shoe… then had trouble getting back into the groove.

That’s all I have to say.

(*does happy dance*)

U Can't Touch This!

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:14:00 -0600

I have some encouraging news this week. I ran an entire mile before slowing down. Yay! Finally. I’m seeing real improvements in my running. I felt good, I think I can push myself to run another quarter to half mile next week.

I solicited advice from some of my friends who are runners. They said when they hit a wall like I did last week, they tell themselves to “shut up and run,” and try focusing on other things. So I did, and it worked. That and a little MC Hammer on my iPod, too!

I thought it was hardest to get going again once I’d slow down. Today was also the first day I felt my weight on my knees and ankles. It wasn’t painful like a strain or pull, but a strong pressure. That will go away as I start to lose weight.

There’s a new 7k in March I’d like to participate in. It’s the Get Lucky Run 7k by Team Ortho. That’s the group I’m doing the other races through. A 7k is 4.3 miles. That’s a scary distance, then again I have to run 13 miles for the half marathons. It’s March 20th, so I think I’m going to wait to sign up. I first want to make sure the weather is good. No more running outside in cold, crappy weather!! However, I’m going to keep running/training like I’m running it. If not, I’ll find a 5k to do in April.