Got goals?

[BillCobit]

Hello all -

I'm curious - who is working toward some specific, challenging goals? For instance, Hosacktom training for a marathon, Mark Wagner looking to rack up 2400 post-op running miles, I think I recall Tom was planning another mountain climb.

Who else is on a mission? I love reading about that stuff!

[MarkU]

I'm planning to do my second triathlon in July. The first one I did in February gave me a good baseline on how I need to focus my training. The worst part by far was the transition from the bike to the run, so that's one of the specific things I'm working on. That and working to maintain an even swimming pace in order to avoid going out too fast like I did last time and struggling at the end.
I really enjoy the cross-training aspect of triathlons - it really keeps things from getting stale or boring. I'm also fortunate to have the support of several experienced local triathletes for training advice and encouragement.

Mark

[tommy]

Bill,

Tha Annual Pikes Peak Challenge is in September, benefitting the Brain Injury Association of Colorado and Think First. It will be my first mountain hike to the top of a 14'er. 13 miles and 7,000 feet elevation (all up). We get to take a bus down! :)

Dallas White Rock Marathon is in December.

My other major goal is to turn fifty. ;)

[MarkU]

My other major goal is to turn fifty. ;)

I turned 50 last year - my doctor says my St. Jude valve should last 30 years, so I'm planning on making it at least until 80!

Mark

[ccrawford]

I think its great you guys are setting and acheiving goals. Mine is a little more modest. I'm planning to participate in a three mile jog/walkathon this summer to benefit the heart assn. Doesn't sound like much, but before surgery, I could barely make it accross Walmart. Keep up the good work.

[McCln]

My goals are to keep on walking. Maybe someday I will walk for the heart association and diabetes association. Till then, I still have to keep working on the walking and losing more weight. I hope to get to 150 pounds by the end of the year, if not sooner. I am at 205 right now. Take care and keep up with the goals. They are reachable.

Caroline
09-13-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve

[Bunny_Rabbit]

My goal is to lose about 50lbs and get back into my old clothes again...or even a bikini! :D

I know it's not some great big event, but it's going to mean a whole lot to me.

[tommy]

Bunny,

Go for it!
You have those "skinny" clothes still in your closet?
Good motivation.
You will feel terrific as well.

[knightfan2691]

My goal is to lose about 50lbs and get back into my old clothes again...or even a bikini! :D

*raises eyebrow*

Oooo....bikini! Summer is a comin' ;).

*pauses*

As for _my_ goals, I'm afraid mine aren't as "active" as some of the ones posted above; tho, considering our recent thread about sex, it might be...I don't know.

Goals:
* get my "baby girls" cleaned and ready for the summer cruisin' season
* plan my trips (Bowling Green KY for the MC Nationals; Nashville/Jackson TN; Pennsylvania for the family reunion; Michigan for Woodward Dream Cruise, Denver/Utah/Oklahoma/Texas/Wichita around the VR.com reunion in October)
* find "love". No, I'm not lookin', because I'm told you find when you are not looking. But, well, some nudges or setups would be helpful...lol.
* fine a new job
* work no some long-awaited projects around the house
* work again on my writing

Of course, I'm sure there are more....

Cort, "Mr Road Trip"/"The Uniter", 30swm w/pig valve & pacemaker
member & newsletter editor, Faith COB = http://www.faithcob.org
"Mr MC"'s Family...& train & models = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
RIP = '76, Parents' [my] MC ... '88 MC LS ... '00 "mc" LS
Spotting MCs = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html
MC's Future = http://www.projectmonte.com/petition/

[Bryan B]

I have a few in no particular order:

Get back to traveling with my job.

Get my golf game back to where it was about 5 years ago (2 handicap).

That thing Cort was talking about would be nice if it happened to happen. :D

Just enjoy life with my fixed ticker and not feel tired all the time.

[Raverlaw]

Tom,

Got any details on the Pike's Peak challenge? Is it run? walk? run/walk? Do you have a link to the organization that is sponsoring it?

And I share your goal to make it 50 this year. A few weeks ago, that goal would have been unlikely to have been met. Now, I think I'll make it!

[tommy]

Bill,

The PPC is a one-way hike. Here's the website. The two charities and various sponsors have links on the PPC site. I will be hiking with my brother (19x PPC veteran) who works in the brain/spinal rehab field.

http://www.pikespeakchallenge.com/

[Raverlaw]

Tom,

Thanks so much for the link. The hike looks like a lot of fun, and for a great cause, too! Now that's inspiration and motivation. I wonder if we could put a VR survivors team together? :confused:

[Rain]

That would be really fun!

In the mean time, I wanna learn to write like Cort....

*raises eyebrow* How about some classes, Mr. Cort?? :cool: Lemme give it a try....

*mumbles to self* That crazy BIll's gonna give us all a bad name.....

......... admitting to "persistent pumpheadedness... or old age creeping up"!

*shakes head in disbelief*

[Granbonny]

Before I get too old..and yall will have to wheel me around in my wheelchair..and bring me a Miller-Lite :D :D :D My daughter and her hubby are all set to adopt 2 children from Russia... :D :D :D Depends on how fast the paperwork goes, their flying to Russia to see the children..Coming home..and then going back for them a few weeks later. Maybe around Oct. and I would miss the Co. reunion.........Nashville, Tenn. sounds great for a VR. reunion..LOTS of East coast members around there. :D :D :D Bonnie

[Rush20]

My goal is to get back to where I was prior to my surgery last August. I play a lot of softball in the summer and I can't wait to get back on the field. However, I made a big mistake over the weekend....

I have been working out with weights, treadmill and bike consistently since December. Although I have worked my way back to about 75% of my pre-surgery levels, I'm still taking it slow and not trying to push myself too hard. I felt great with no problems until Sunday.

Saturday, I went to our local batting cages and hit about 100 pitches. I felt great, no pain, it was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed myself. Sunday afternoon my entire ribcage and chest area was became tight and started to ache. I've been downing Tylenols to help with the pain. I'm just now starting to feel a little better, however whenever I take deep breaths and my lungs expand, my ribs hurt. Proof again, that I overdid it! :(

[knightfan2691]

Allen,

Good luck with your softball endeavors. My Dad's team is gearing up for another eventful season, too ;).


Rain,

That, my dear, is my trademark :). You'll have to pay a fee to use it...LOL!


Bryan,

That "thing" would so be nice. Heh...to make it more frustrating (a tad, anyway), 3 friends told me in separate conversations over the weekend that it's about time that I start searching in earnest for someone...that I deserve to find someone special and *ahem* get some action finally...LOL! Each of the 3 did _not_ know anyone else had said anything to me.... *sighs* I'm not "worried", per se....still....those comments didn't help...LOL. Aye...irony rocks ;)

[Bunny_Rabbit]

Oh Tom,

You'd better believe that I've still got my skinny clothes in my closet...and gosh darn it, they're gonna fit again one day! Even if I'm 70 years old, I'm going to fit into my old mini skirts! haha yeah. :D

[Marge]

Well, as of now my goal is to finally get my husband through his knee operation (it was supposed to be in January, BEFORE my surgery! but he's still waiting for a date) -- and then to go to Northern New Mexico in late August.

This year we'll be in Santa Fe coincidentally with Indian Market, which I've never been to (I'm sure that iit will be hot, crowded and chaotic but very interesting). Usually we do a lot of hiking when we go to New Mexico but this year, I don't know, what with the new knee replacement -- not to mention the August heat.

Later on in the year, or early in 2005, we're hoping to get over to Europe again, either France or Italy or preferably both. Dreaming of a couple of weeks in Venice .... This week, just to get myself in the right frame of mind, I'm starting Italian lessons again. (For the umpteenth time! My pattern is, I get myself to the point where I can have a reasonably intelligent conversation, and then I go rusty for lack of anyone to have a conversation with.)

[Abbanabba]

My goals...... hmmmmmmm.....

Well I'd love to be able to do things again - like walking up stairs, dancing, "canoodling", etc.... without stopping to catch my breath every 2 minutes. :(

However, once I get that sorted out, I'm looking to launch my own copywriting business and to get stuck into those books that have been sitting on the back burner for far too long now!!

I'd also like to get into some sort of counselling - maybe for troubled youths (..I've got plenty of experience to draw from!!..) and continue with my world travels and languages - I have 5 that I'd like to master: Swedish, French, Italian, German & Indonesian. At this stage I only speak smatterings of the first 3 - I can order beer and cake, so I guess that's the important stuff :D :D

Hej Da, Aurevoir, Ciao...
Anna : )

[Mary]

I hope to be able to sky dive again after I have the replacement. What do you think? I'm afraid to ask anyone else.

[Raverlaw]

Mary,

I doubt if skydiving is recommended for anyone on coumadin.....

But what's stopping you from doing that now?....It's not like you have to climb the stairs to jump off or anything! :rolleyes:

[Mary]

Bill,
As soon as I replied, I knew the answer. I keep forgetting I will have an up-close and personal relationship with Cuomadin one of these days.
Sometimes I wonder if the stress of skydiving accelerated the stenosis. It was stressful emotionally and physically difficult to hang from a wing strut wearing a 70 pound pack. It makes me wonder.
So, here's another thought: Do you think I will be able to scuba? I've never tried it, but that would be my goal.
Mary

[Les]

Mary,
You can skydive on Coumadin for the same reasons you can drive a car or walk on concrete. Your risk of injury doing these two simple things is far greater than that of your chosen sport. Awareness and common sense should certainly prevail with the taking of Coumadin, but neither do we want to cover ourselves in bubble-wrap and refuse to be anything but active the rest of our lives. Quality of life is far more important than just quantity. Geronimo!

[bvdr]

This reference seems to say that scuba diving wouldn't hurt the mechanical heart valve but I don't know what effect it would have on associated heart conditions.

http://www.carbomedics.com/patients_faq.asp?faq=PFMech#19

[Ross]

(VERY IMPORTANT) My other goal is to see a picture of BUNNY in her BIKINI posted here on the VR web site ... and that my heart valve will survive the experience! :D Mark
http://home.neo.rr.com/blebs99/Smilies/nod.gif http://home.neo.rr.com/blebs99/Smilies/thumb.gif

[Granbonny]

Was that Bunny or Bonnie that yall wanted to see in a BIKINI? :D :D :D

[Mary]

Hey Mark,
You should check into whether they'll let you skydive. I had to answer a long form before I started jumping, and I actually lied on it when it asked if I
had any heart problems. At that time, I didn't know about my valve problem, but I had been throwing PVC's for a number of years.
Anyway, the valve problem was diagnosed while I was jumping, and I had to quit. No one would let me do it. The issue is the liability on the Drop Zone and the instructors. They have so much to deal with, they usually don't like to take on anymore potential problems than necessary. You can tell them you're fine now, but don't be surprised if they don't want you to jump on your own.
It might be you could jump tandem. It's more expensive, but you might be able to try it. You would jump with a jump master who is with you the whole way under a two canopy set-up.
The hot air balloon ride is something I would go ahead and do now and not wait until I was 60!
Good luck,
Mary

[Bunny_Rabbit]

Silly boys! ;)

Alright, IF I can ever get back into a bikini, I'll be sure to post the pic on VR.com. Hey if I can get back into a bikini, I'll post the picture EVERYWHERE! maybe even on a t-shirt for myself! or a billboard!

hehe now I'm just losing my mind. I'll stick to the game plan and try to lose the pounds.

Thanks for the encouragement.

Ah to dream. :D

btw....GO LEAFS GO!

[Ross]

.....but I don't want to wait, do it now! :D

[Granbonny]

No one replied to my thread. NO one wants to see me in my bikini????? :D :D :D Bonnie

[Ross]

No one replied to my thread. NO one wants to see me in my bikini????? :D :D :D BonnieWell bring on your bad self now!

[bvdr]

Bonnie, the only way I want to see you in a bikini is if you promise me that I will feel better about how I know I would look in one! :D :D :D

[Granbonny]

I'm waiting for Bunny to see her post one first.. :D Then, I'll see if I can outdo her...Let's go Bunny. :D :D :D Bonnie

[knightfan2691]

*raises eyebrow*

Hmmm....Bunny in a bikini ;). How long until this happening are we talkin' here?

LOL....

[Bunny_Rabbit]

Bonnie, I want to see you in a bikini. I just didn't know how to ask is all. :D

I'm feeling all this pressure now to get my arse into the gym and work out. Well I'll tell ya's....seein' me in a bikini is gonna take some time. A whole lotta time. :)

This should tide y'all over. :)

[Ross]

No fair, I want a rematch! I can't put my wolf beside that picture. :(

[Granbonny]

Who deleted the picture of me in a bikini I just posted.... :p :p Was it you, Ross. If so, put it back up..Bon

[Mark Wagner]

Bring it on Bonnie! Bring it on!!! Lets see what you got :p :p :p

Signed ROSS.

"This message was approved by ROSS"

[Granbonny]

I need Ross to put my head on Pamela Lee Anderson's body :D :D :D :D Since my last name is Anderson..that wouldn't be cheating to much. :p :p :p Bon

[Ross]

I need Ross to put my head on Pamela Lee Anderson's body :D :D :D :D Since my last name is Anderson..that wouldn't be cheating to much. :p :p :p Bon
I don't know about the other guys, but if you were even tied to Pamela Anderson, I would want nothing to do with you. ;)

[Les]

Tied...like related? Or tied... like with scarves, etc? :rolleyes:

[Mark Wagner]

Les, you were thinking the same thing I was
'tied' like with 'SILLY STRING'! :eek: :D

[tommy]

*Peers around the room*
*wonders how this thread got so far off track*

don't care now
*lost in thoughts of bikinis and silly string*

"raises an eybrow* *lowers his gaze*
Do they make string bikinis made of silly string?

*muses about gender discrimination*
Do we need a male volunteer photo in speedos?

If I chuckle tomorrow during my half marathon, I'm gonna blame it on you, or should I say - give you credit. :) What a great bunch of people! You educate the mind and lift the spirits. Please pass the pasta.

[Ross]

Tom is right. Time for this one to get back on the tracks. Bill if all this funnin disturbs you let me know and I'll set it in another thread. I didn't mean to hi jack your thread with silliness.

[ar bee]

I have a few in no particular order:

Get back to traveling with my job.

Get my golf game back to where it was about 5 years ago (2 handicap).

That thing Cort was talking about would be nice if it happened to happen. :D

Just enjoy life with my fixed ticker and not feel tired all the time.


==> my cardio said: for the first 6 month post surgery you can practise your short game like there is no tomorrow :-))) but no full swings :-(((

[Mark Wagner]

Cool Ar Bee. I only dream of a 2 handicap! That is awesome.

... Mark :cool: