video: why i ride

I had the opportunity to meet with the folks at the United Performing Arts Fund the other day and they created this little clip to tell the world "Why I Ride" in the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts.




Want to get a headstart on supporting me? You can do so by donating online here.

Want to join my team? Click register at the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts homepage and select "FUEL Milwaukee" from the menu. Password is "fuel2010".

it's that time of year...

You may notice the "new look" of the Accidental Wisconsinite. You may also notice that I have a new blog up. :)

I actually intend to do quite a bit of blogging over the next couple of months, because it's that time of year again...time for me to launch my annual fundraising campaign for the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts.

This year I'm going ALL OUT. Because of my recent fitness success, I'm pushing myself to the max and taking on the 75 mile route. Keeping with my $20/mile tactic, that raises my fundraising goal to $1500.

I am committing to blogging about my ride training and my ride motivation (performing arts) at least three times a week between now and June 6. Attending two fantastic performances at the Milwaukee Rep and the Milwaukee Ballet in the past week reaffirmed my dedication to this important cause.

Also, please mark your calendars for the evening of Friday, May 7. I've arranged with the fine folks over at AJ Bombers to guest bartend that night to support the ride. Come enjoy a delicious burger and let me serve ya up something to wash it down with!

Want to get a headstart on supporting me? You can do so by donating online here.

Want to join my team? Click register at the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts homepage and select "FUEL Milwaukee" from the menu. Password is "fuel2010".

Thanks in advance for your support in my efforts this year!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I still suck at posting, but my St. Patrick's Day plans involve going to Paddy's Pub tomorrow from about 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Weather should be nice so join us out on the patio!

And to remind you of why I'm not sitting home blogging incessantly....here's a picture of my last St. Pat's pre-celebration:

And mine this year:

February Fitness Pays Off!

I totally sucked at blogging this week. And you're not getting make up blogs. I think you will live.

A couple people have asked for fitness updates, so here goes...

Becky and I continued our 5k a month challenge, completing the Frostbite 5k in Nashotah Saturday (don't we look hot post-run?). We met up with several #fitmke folks -- Anne, Tracey, Sarah, Rochelle and Julie. They all did incredible, with Anne and Rochelle both earning bronze medals for their class!

I set a PR for myself, finishing the very hilly course in a speedy 31:20! Considering I did my first race last month just over 38 minutes, I would have been happy with 35. Needless to say, I'm thrilled.

Next up: The Madison Shamrock Shuffle on March 14

In just 20 days I'll be doing the Fight for Air Climb, also with Becky. I owe a huge shout out to my wonderful Twitter friends who generously put me over my $100 fundraising requirement in less than 24 hours. Thanks so much Nick, Derek, Sara S., Karen, Anne, and my awesome #fitmke partner Amy!! If the American Lung Association of Wisconsin is an important cause to you, please feel free to donate as well, but know that I'll be doing another big campaign for the Miller Lite for the Arts in the coming months. I've got some exciting news about that too!

I have had some friends who I don't see often start wondering why all my posts are about fitness/diet/etc. Well, hopefully they are beginning to understand that it's a huge part of my life now...and if I ignore it, HUGE will take over my life again. I can't ever let that happen. I know I can be thin....if I work at it.

I could not have been more excited to jump around Boutique Vieux et Nouveau yesterday in the above dress. It was a size 8!!! An 8!!!!! I started this thing in a high 16. Dude, I'm proud of myself. I am so happy because I don't know the last time I felt I earned something with so much hard work. Plus, I actually like who I am now. I feel like I smile all the time. Why? Because this was me just last August:

And again, me now...

music madness: spring concerts

Completely diverging from last night's melancholy topic (thank you all who gave advice/support), let's talk about something more cheerful tonight...upcoming concerts!

Once again, the folks over at the Pabst Theater Group have outdone themselves by getting a crapload of ridiculously national acts.

Here's what I already have tickets for:

• March 6: The Avett Brothers with The Low Anthem
• March 19: The Big Pink & A Place to Bury Strangers (This is a $10 show that everyone should go to. I think this was the best album that nobody heard of last year.)
• April 3: Passion Pit
• April 11: Girls with Dum Dum Girls
• April 21: FLAMING LIPS (oohhhhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhhh)
• May 9: Frightened Rabbit
• May 22: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
  

Here's what I'll probably end up going to as well:

• March 3: The English Beat & Fishbone
• March 22: Temper Trap
• April 4: David Bazan
• May 3: Apples in Stereo
• May 24: Midlake
  

And there's so many other great acts coming that I had to rule out due to price points/ non GA seating / etc.

On the concert festival front, I can only make it to Pitchfork this year and that's just fine with me! Why? Because for my $98 three-day pass I will be seeing:

• Modest Mouse (for the first time since December 2000)
• LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
• PAVEMENT

I breathed such a sigh of relief and yelped for joy when I saw that last one. I'd feared they'd be at Lollapalooza, which takes place while I'm in Europe. Yes, I'll likely miss Arcade Fire and the Strokes, and even Lady Gaga, but with the exception of the latter, I've seen the other two several times, so I'm not too bummed out.

Of course, don't forget my #mkemusic challenge. Though I've hit my February slot by catching Conrad Plymouth last weekend at the MuzzleOfBees.com 5th Anniversary Show at Cactus Club, I am definitely not going to miss seeing a bunch of local acts at the RadioMilwaukee Music Awards Party this Thursday at Whiskey Bar (it's a block from my house, I can't miss out).

And speaking of local radio stations, don't forget to mark your calendars for WMSE's Rockabilly Chili Contest on March 7. It's one of my most favorite days of the year!

What musical goodness is coming up on your calendar?

becoming underinvolved?

As many of you know, or have surmised, I spent the bulk of my 20s getting really involved in the community. I also spent the bulk of my late-20s packing on the pounds while not taking much time for myself.

As I continue to try and lose my last 20 pounds, I also scramble to meet all of my volunteer commitments. It's a delicate balance and sometimes I feel like I'm letting people down.

Does anyone have some tips for becoming less involved? Or balancing self-time with community time?

in the kitchen: frozen veggies to the rescue

I've been meaning to make carrot ginger soup forever. I bought carrots a few weeks ago for the occasion. Well, I never got around to it until tonight. And the carrots were bad. D'oh. I decided to scrounge in my freezer for SOMETHING to make, when what did I find? CARROTS! Frozen in August. Perfect for making the soup with.

I can't praise learning food preservation enough--put it on your list for next summer. You never know when it may surprise and relieve you on a February night.

Oh, and the soup was delicious.

Have you been rescued by the freezer?