Work(s) in Progress

Learning some HTML

I finally claimed (acquired) my personal domain name http://www.catherinekunst.com and of course my personal domain branded email address (catherine-AT-catherinekunst.com). There is nothing there yet as I'm still actively reading tutorials on HTML and CSS style sheets. So far, I'm very impressed with the guides available on HTML dog. My goal is to at least get a placeholder up this weekend that is not built on a free or commercial template and is not created with anything other than notepad and a WYSIWYG viewer - and yes I had to google that to even discover what one was.

I registered my domain on FatCow.com because they were currently listed as the best host on hosting review and as a reminder to keep my fitness goals in mind! Moo. So of course I also just downloaded (and started this AM) Turbulence Training Hotzone (not sure how long this link will stay active or free...so get it now). Day 1 workout was definitely fun.

I am not yet certain what I want to put on a static website, but advice and suggestions (especially for tutorials and free tools) are most certainly welcome.

Coming up for air

I never thought the day would come that I felt like I was too busy to blog. I am not exactly certain what happened.

Fitness: I am holding steady at 13x and 23 to 24% (Omron) body fat. My most recent 3 mile run, at sea level, was done in 27 minutes, pretty much my fastest run ever. I can still run a 10K in about an hour. None of this is bad for a geeky 41 year old but I can do better.

Dating: I'd previously tried two free online dating sites (date hookup and plenty of fish) and went silent after my less than optimal experiences. In late spring, I decided to rework my profile, being very clear about what I was looking for, and put it back out there. I met the person who caused me to delete all of my online profiles on fitness singles (a paid site). I was completely and utterly swept off of my feet on May 16; hmm, last post occurring on May 12, could be related. We've been traveling a bit, check my flickr account for the sites we have seen in Carmel, Monterey, Big Sur, Bryce Canyon & Zion National Park.

Random: I keep getting invited to participate in things for which I cannot seem to say no: One last scientific review panel (autoimmune) for DOD; co-chairing a sub-committee on small business development and higher education for the economic development council of the Downtown Denver Partnership; co-chairing a sub-committee on Enterprise programs at the Business School for our annual strategic planning event; co-authoring what may be one of my last pure scientific research papers on work I started back in 2000; continuing on as a scientific collaborator for just a “few” more months; a strategic planning session for my friend's latest non-profit venture (Dani's foundation); and ironically, a few months back I sat on a panel for women in higher education administration about “Making Institutional Service part of YOUR Plan, or How to Say NO and When to Say YES.” I'm not so great at the NO.

Work: On top of those things for which I can't say no, work has been busy. We received 76 entries from across Colorado for our 8th Annual Business Plan Competition. We awarded our winners with a variety of cash and in-kind services from local businesses:

Olomomo Nut Company    1st Place $12,000

The Organic Dish    2nd Place $5,000

VibraLung, Inc.    3rd Place $2,500; Bioscience Award (Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority& We Work for Health) $5,000; Bioscience Award (CoreLogic) $1,000

Also Energy  Finalist $1,000

Global CaféNation  Finalist $1,000; International Award (CIBER & the Institute for International Business) $1,000; Non-Profit Award (The Ward Family) $1,000

Western States Biopharmaceuticals  Finalist $1,000

Larry Nelson of w3w3.com took many terrific pictures at the awards luncheon for our competition. You can view them here (registration required).

Our finalists received a lot of press:

• Healthy Ideas Under One Roof

• Two Boulder Companies win

• Best of the Bard Center

• Nut Company Wins

• DU students take on the world

The Bard Center and our 2009 business plan winner(s) were also featured on KMGH-TV (ABC) channel 7 news. You can watch the segment here: Small businesses finding room to grow

We're already thinking about our 9th Annual Competition on June 10, 2010.

The founders of the Bard Center, Pamela & Richard Bard, recently co-produced a movie, Homecoming, starring Misha Barton & Jessica Stroup. There was a limited release in Denver at the Starz Film Center on the Auraria campus. I was honored to be able to attend opening night with the producers.

On August 1, Jung Park of Metroboom, the 2004 Business Plan Competition Winner, is hosted his annual Enthuse event, a unique social networking event incorporating fashion, music, dance, fine cuisine, & fundraising. I keep trying to get all of my advisory council members (well at least the men) to become customers. I love his custom shirts & suits.

We renovated our Center to better segregate our academic program from our incubator offices. Our renovated incubator spaceat the Bard Center has only 1 vacant office (320H). Our incubator is open to all early stage Colorado companies. Contact me if you are interested.

Our Bard Entrepreneurship Network (BEN) Meetups have grown up: cocktails & content. Join us August 26 at Elevated Third from 6 to 8PM. This month, Justin Perkins the CEO of Olomomo Nut Company & our 2009 Business Plan competition winner will be there to answer questions & let folks taste his products. Jim Kirchheimer, the Director for Economic Development for the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) will be there to talk about the benefits of membership and the resources available at the DDP. RSVP: http://www.meetup.com/Bard-Entrepreneurship-Network-Meetup/

I'm always on the lookout for other opportunities for entrepreneurs in our community.

• Need $100,000 to start your company? The nationally run MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurship Series is open to 21 to 35 year olds. http://millercoorsmues.com/

• My friend Stephen Miller launched a new clean tech incubator and is helping to bring the Clean Tech Open to Colorado. He gotten some great press: Local Clean Tech Incubator opensmore information at www.cleanlaunch.com

• Finally, biotech companies should consider attending or Consider presenting your company at the 1st Annual Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor Conference

Our business school orientation is going virtual. We’ve recorded a segment promoting the Bard Center which can be previewed below.

It's been a busy summer...

Month 1 Update Goals 2009

Where did January go?

You know that it's been too long when your mom emails to find out why you have not been blogging. 

I have three major goals for 2009- improved fitness, learning Spanish and seeking out bliss.

While I have not been good at writing down my progress, I have been actively pursuing my goals.

Fitness - I joined the new LifeTime Fitness Center in my neighborhood. I have been meeting a friend there about 5 times a week. I have started swimming again. I'm getting stronger and faster. I'm not sure why I'm willing to drive about 10 miles to work out when I've had a membership to a gym about 2 block from my work that I rarely used. I think it's because I've had a friend who has consistently met me there, either mornings or evenings depending what will work for my schedule. Knowing someone is waiting or would be waiting helps me get there.  

I want to see my abs again this year. I'm close. I weighed and measured recently. I estimate I need to lose 5 or 6 measly pounds of fat to reach this goal.

Spanish- I have not made as much progress adding a new language. I did move the first 30 lessons from CD to iPod but that has not helped much.

Bliss - Ah the bliss. I think this must be my real goal for 2009. The bliss is everywhere. It's been a great month. Seeing my friend, who was in a coma for about a month after her stroke last fall, walk a few blocks to enjoy a meal at Chipotle with me. Having her talk about returning to work any day now. Going for my first motorcycle ride to the mountains with a good friend because it was sunny and 70 in January. Getting home before the snow blew in. Getting a massage; a facial; a manicure; a pedicure. Taking my very first ski lesson. Not falling. Sitting on an outdoor deck in the snow looking up on the mountains sharing conversation with a good friend over lunch. Connecting with someone who could become important. Having him cook dinner for me. Watching the people walk by on sunny days sharing conversation over coffee with good friends.

And, I finally have some closure on my home situation. My now ex-husband and I filed for divorce in July and promptly put our house on the market. Our divorce finalized in October. After 6 months, more than 54 showings, a price drop of 12.5% and no offers, my ex and I came to an agreement. Yesterday we met at the bank, transferred money to him and the title on the house to me. I cannot express how relieved I am to know that I can move my belonging out of the garage and into the house; that I can count on the house being locked when I get home; that I can leave the bed unmade from time to time; that I won't get 15 minutes warning to leave for 2 hours on Saturday mornings.

Short Notes

I love reading other people's blogs. I had a few things catch my attention this weekend.

(1) Scott Adams has an interesting post on practice that ended with this sentence. "It makes me wonder if the passion part of our brains will ever be manipulated by drugs so that passionless people get just enough OCD to obsessively practice something until they get good at it."

(2) Kyra has a wonderful post (rant) on health and fitness (and the obesity epidemic in the USA) on a budget which reminded me of Maggie's posts on frugal dieting and fitness. Truly, I can (and often do) spend more on meal than Maggie would spend on a week of healthy eating.

(3) Clay Lowe was interviewed and included in that interview was an amazing poem. I'm going to grab a snippet.

Her dreams have all gone to bed by Clay Lowe

The wind whispers between
raindrops of yesterday’s past
the memory of her last kiss
fades to black

She can see her happiness
stagger out the front door
into the arms of another
perfumed night

Her broken dreams have
all gone to bed haunted by
ghosts of lines left unsaid

...

go read the rest. And be sure to check out Clay's blog. I can't wait for his book to be published in March. I don't even normally like poetry but Clay's poems tend to resonate with me.

(4) I follow Ben Casnocha on Twitter and read his blog regularly. This tweet resonated with me today: "We unconsciously dislike / repel people in whom we see parts of ourselves that we cannot or do not want to accept. (DFW)"

I see this everyday and could not agree more. 

I wish I thought of this

BKB Limited sends me regional race notices about once a month. Today I got an invitation to the Singles Mingle 5K run. This is a hoot. In the morning there is a 5K race. In the evening there is a cocktail party. Your race entry gets you free access to the evening event.

From their website:

9:00 AM: The SM5K is quite different from your typical road race. It’s an event designed to attract Denver’s active singles together in one place for a good cause and a full day of fun. The morning 5K run and walk will take place in Denver’s historic City Park.

6:00 PM to midnight: The day race is followed by an evening reception at the brand new Suite 200. This venue is located in Larimer Square downtown Denver. Come see what a million dollar renovation looks like and enjoy the VIP lounge which will be available for our event. A cash bar and complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be provided. The evening mingle is included in your race entry fee. If you want to bring a guest there will be a $15 charge with a portion going towards the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

I wish I thought of this. Running, cocktails, and donations to a good cause all in one. Neat.

I love Colorado

Tonight I was supposed to meet a friend to run the stairs at my local recreation center. He unfortunately had to cancel but I went anyway. There are at least 10 clumps of 10-12 stairs to the top.

The view from the top was magnificent. I love to run or walk around the soccer fields and lake.

Quiet

Lots on my mind, not much to say in public. I've been keeping a private journal recently. I got in the habit of writing but don't have much to share at the moment.

I met with a doctor this morning to discuss tubal ligation. When they called to schedule a surgery date, I learned that it will occur the day the judge is scheduled to sign my divorce decree. I don't believe in a higher power but I sometimes feel the universe is laughing.

I try to stay above the political fray on this blog. I will say that Sarah Palin scares me. I am a registered independent. I loved the idea of McCain in 2000. I was less certain for this year. His VP choice has made it very clear that Obama is the candidate for me. If you wonder why I am frightened, I can only say, watch this:

I have no words, just abject terror at the idea that she could be our nation's leader..

So, if you are looking for wonderful things to read:

I really enjoyed Brad Feld's recent post Simplify. The idea of the "sunk cost" was one of the most important ones I learned in Business School. I tend to apply it EVERYWHERE in my life.  

Julie Berg has completed yet another 100 Mile race with a truly inspiring race write up. Be sure to buy her magic blister repelling foot potion. I have been reading Julie's blog since about 2004. If her most recent race post inspires you, I encourage you to start at post #1. She is always surprised that people find her inspiring. She is quite simply amazing.

Christine Kane recently gave a speech at a college orientation. I loved her rant on "anything worth doing is worth doing badly." I especially LOVED this part:

"Sucking is highly under-rated. Sucking should be celebrated. Sucking teaches you that sucking is not the problem. Not trying at all is the problem. Trying to be cool is the problem. Worrying about what everyone thinks of you is the problem. "

Amen.

 

Cruise wrap-up

If you want to see more pictures from the cruise, Maggie posted her description with pictures here. Kyra had 4 cruise related posts, of which this is one (you can click through her others on her site). Irene posted some here and made a really neat slide show that clicks through lots of different pictures.

Perhaps the most interesting pictures are on the John Stone Fitness Forum (warning 8 forum pages of picture and movies; at least 1 nipple shot, pixelated, not mine) - mostly of their group. I mentioned in my previous post that PhillyDude from the John Stone Fitness group often joined us for dinner. Here's a comment from him (page 2 of the above link) that shows the major differences between the two groups (Pink Dumbbells & John Stone Fitness).

I sat with the Pink Dumbbells (PD) group at dinner every night. There were two other couples besides Maggie (causticmuse) and her husband Chris (waynegretzkyjr), and a solo female (who I ended up sitting with, being the only solo male in either group around her age). They were fascinated, yet horrified, at some of the tales from the day.

Example from "formal" night dinner:

Philly: So what did you guys do today?

Random PD response (sipping wine): "Oh, we took the snorkeling excursion, and then walked around Nassau and did some shopping. How about you guys?"

Philly: "We drank 437 pina coladas, pissed on some fish in the ocean, and then held Tanisha's hair back while she puked in a bag on the taxi ride back to the ship. She's the one over there at the other table in the dress with the neckline down to her navel, next to the big guy with the sleeveless t-shirt and the racing stripe sunburn lines and the aluminum bottle of Bud in his hand."

All PD couples in unison:     

The cruise was bad for my nutrition plan. Food everywhere, all of the time, with too many treats. I left for Orlando on August 14th at 132 lbs. I returned the evening of the 18th at 142 lbs - an impressive gain of 10 lbs in 4 days. Granted it was mostly bloating from eating the wrong foods. After about 4 more days I was holding steady at about 134. As of today, with nutrition and exercise bad on plan, I'm down to 131. Whew.

And finally, as fellow bloggers, we spent some time talking about those strange people who will leave spam message or attacks in the comments on certain blogs but not others. Most of us have been very fortunate in this regard. I tempted fate by saying that I'd gotten none since I started blogging in 2004. Shortly after I posted the group cruise picture, I didn't get a comment here, but I received an email that read "For years, every picture that I have seen of you has been lovely, except the latest one on your blog. It looks as if you had plastered your hair down with bear grease. I hope that you will choose a new hairstyle as soon as possible. At least you are smiling." The email came from a relative that people are generally surprised that I don't visit often. Thanks for wiping away that last shred of guilt. And for the record, no bears were harmed in the creation of that picture.

 

Fit Women, Part 2

It was great to meet Irene, Kyra and Maggie in person! This picture was taken on the night of the formal dinner. Special thanks to Maggie and her husband Chris for being our drivers and my host for my first night in Orlando. Come visit anytime! Also thanks to PhillyDude (not pictured) from the John Stone Fitness Forums group for being my dining companion each night.

The cruise was too short. I miss the ocean already. I need to update my PADI  certification. It had been too long since I'd been in the water. It was great to snorkel, sit on the beach and simply enjoy the boat rides to and from my destinations. Bliss.

Fit Women

I virtually met a number of amazing women back in 2004 when I first started focusing on fitness, initially following the original Body for Life program created by Bill Phillips who is now doing a program called Transformation. At first (2004-2005) I faithfully tracked my progress in Excel, and took pictures every few weeks. You can view my initial transformation here, just keep scrolling down to get to the final "after" pictures.

Many of the women, through their blogs and various fitness forums, have gone on to compete in figure competitions or have become certified personal trainers. As time passed, for me, it became less about a specific program and more about just living a healthy lifestyle. It was also important to me to drop the obsessive compulsive tracking, although it is incredibly effective. Right now I really like the variety of Turbulence Training (read the blog or buy it here). At a minimum you should at least check out the YouTube workouts.

This coming week I am going to have the opportunity to meet several of these inspiring women in person. I am so incredibly excited.

Julie Berg is coming to Colorado to compete in the Leadville 100, a 100 mile trail run! Julie often wins her age-group in her local ultra-marathons. She's also just launched a store to sell her magical blister preventing foot potion. Hopefully I can meet her and her family before she heads into the mountains.

The magnificent Maggie Wang (she's a karaoke singing, video game programming, artist & fitness junkie with a frugal gourmet habit) coordinated the Pink Dumbbells (note: Pink Dumbbells is a joke about those women who are afraid to lift heavy and only use those cute pink dumbbells for their workouts) cruise. I think a bunch of folks from the John Stone Fitness Forum are also coming.

I am also looking forward to meeting Irene and Kyra, whose art I keep buying. I also can't wait to get on our cruise ship. I'm ready to bask in the sun for a few days.