Pictures from #19: Building a campfire without cut firewood.

I completely forgot about these pictures! But Kelsey put them up yesterday & I figured I should add them to the checkmark blog. =)

Completing #29: Complete a triathlon.

I did it!!! I finished a triathlon. Without walking! And within the tentative time goals I had for myself. =) I can't believe I did it! Given my nerves for the three days before, I think I did pretty darn well. AKA I finished, which is more than I was anticipating at 10:30pm the night before the race. I came in 5th for my age group and 108th overall (out of something over 450 people). I swam in about 15 minutes (partially because I waited to start until most of the pack was aways ahead of me... I didn't want to get kicked in the face and drown). I biked in about 48 minutes and ran in 30. Not too bad considering my goals were to swim in under 20, bike in 45, and run in 30! Other than that, I suppose the best way to tell the story is with pictures so I'll put it in slideshow form. Enjoy!

Next year's goals include swimming in 12 minutes, biking in 40, and running in 27. I think I can do it! =) I also want to swim out in front with the big dogs. So... here's to 12 months of working on my swim confidence! And to finishing #29: Complete a triathlon. =)

Almost at #29: Complete a triathlon.

Well, I'm here! My dad & I drove out to the west side of the state this morning & found our campsite. Correction... I drove us out to the west side of the state. In the motorhome. AHHH! But we both survived and so did all other drivers on the road. Several butterflies and two caterpillars' lives are in question but all in all, the world isn't much worse off post-Sarah-driving.

So, we arrived, sat around, and at 3:30 we headed for the triathlon park. I registered and checked out the lake (which was being buoyed up and let me tell you... those buoys are a LOT further than they're supposed to be). My dad and I biked part of the route just to get a feel for it and then headed back to meet up with Dana.

We got her registered (even if it did take a full hour). Then was Multisport 101 which was basically a class with a guy that stood up there and said everything that I've read in books over the past year but did a MUCH better job of making me feel a lot better about my decision to do this stupid thing.

I take that back. Sort of. I DO question my decision but this isn't a stupid thing. It's a potentially stupid decision but it's a huge scary big thing (right now at least). It's 9:13pm the night before and given the 5a.m. wakeup time, I should probably get to sleep.

I got some Lift Off today from the Herbalife store that Kelsey's parents run. Her dad got me hooked and now I'm super stoked to drink it tomorrow. Hopefully it's enough to clear my head and calm my nerves while giving me the energy to stay alive through the entire 32 mile swim (I swear those buoys are WAY more than 500 meters).

Pray for me! And Dana! And all of the mommies that are doing it too because I know their little ones would be so sad if something bad happened. And for everyone because I seriously don't know how anyone could ever get GOOD at this.

That's all for now... expect a SUPER excited Sarah if I do this thing and a super not excited Sarah if I don't! Hopefully tomorrow will involve a post titled "Completing #29." And hopefully my hands will be steadier when I go to type it than they are now!

Completing #19: Build a campfire without cut firewood.

Could it be? Could I really cross two things off in one week!? I suppose we'll find out on Saturday. For now, let's focus on #19!

Monday night Kelsey had a few of us over for a bonfire. More specifically, Kevin, Grassley, and myself. Joined by her brother Drew and eventually her parents, we set out to build a campfire without lighters, chopped wood, starting bricks, newspaper, or any of the other glorious amenities that the world relies on to begin fires.

I suppose I should pause and take you back to why #19 even exists.

When I was 10 years old my family went to Alaska for a 3 week vacation. We rented a motorhome and drove all over, pulling over whenever we felt like sleeping and driving when we were awake. (Time had no grasp on us as we were there in July when the sun never sets!). One day I was determined to build the fire... all by myself. I told my parents of my plan and went out into the woods and gathered sticks and leaves and caribou hair and every flammable looking item I could hold in my arms.

I trekked back to the motorhome where, to my dismay, I found a fire already blazing. I was SO upset. My parents told me that I could build the fire and then they went and did it themselves! That's when I decided that one day, whether they liked it or not, I was going to build my own fire. And I wasn't going to use any of their stinkin wood either.

And thus, #19 was born.

So, Monday night, we gathered sticks and leaves and the hemp that Grassley had and we headed back to the pond. I build a lincoln log cabin around the hemp and used the magnesium and knife to launch sparks onto the entire contraption. Soon enough, it lit and I had to blow like crazy to keep it going. I added leaves and a few sticks (all at Grassley's direction, of course) and finally had it going. Kelsey documented it with pictures (which I'll upload when I get ahold of!) and eventually we built it up with pre-cut wood (because I wasn't allowed to go chop down a tree). That's okay though.. I got to start it, and that's what I wanted!

In other news, I learned how to hot-wire a car this week. But that wasn't on the list. =(

Anyway, super stoked! 16 of 31 things crossed off the list! More than half way there! I'd better slow down a bit... I've hopefully still got more than half of my life left to go!

Working toward #29: Complete a Triathlon.

10 MORE DAYS!!! Crazy, right? I think I'm ready though. Not that I'll win, but I fully anticipate finishing. Hopefully. Maybe. Possibly. Potentially.

I swam the full distance in a lake last week. I've been consistently able to do the biking portion without any difficulties. I ran more than 5 kilometers today. The issue will be whether or not I can do them each consecutively. Pray I can!

9 days til I leave for K-Zoo with my dad. Well, Three Rivers. But our camp site is only about 10 minutes from the start line even if it's technically in a different town. AHHH! Panic mode. =P

Back at it: #29, you WILL be checked off!

Well, 2 weeks ago I got back to training. I am able to bike the full distance and run the full distance. I need to start swimming and then practice doing two events together. If I'm able to keep training at the pace I've been training at, I should be good to go by August 28th! =)

My current goals are:

1) Swim the full distance by July 31st.

2) Bike and Run the full distances, one after the other, by July 31st.

3) Do at least 3 open water swims by July 31st.

4) Swim the full distance in a lake by August 7th.

5) Swim the full distance in open water followed by the full bike distance by August 14th.

5) Be able to Swim, Bike, and Run the full distances consecutively by August 28th!

Failing at #29: Complete a triathlon

God just wants to make this triathlon as near to impossible as He can! At the beginning of April it was discovered that I had an abdominal hernia. I've had it for two years but just played it off as a recurrent muscle knot. Finally it got too painful and was refusing to go away sooo I mentioned it to my mom who tentatively diagnosed it as a hernia. Go figure -- not a muscle knot. Doctors at UHS and U of M confirmed via exam & ultrasound and low and behold, I needed surgery. I met with the surgeon on a Monday and four days later was in the OR getting my tummy cut open and all sorts of things sewed together.

It went well -- I was able to walk later that day, and thanks to Brian, walked every single day thereafter. But I'm on activity and lifting restrictions until June. AKA I can't run, rollerblade, swim, bike, or lift more than 10 pounds for what feels like forever. This basically sucks for triathlon training because by now, I've probably lost all the strength and endurance I'd built up. When I'm allowed to move again, I'll have exactly 12 weeks to train. Typically having at least 16 weeks is necessary so we'll see how it goes. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to bounce back pretty quickly (as soon as the rest of my tummy wakes up from surgery! We're having problems still. =( blah). My goal now is to just finish the triathlon... screw placing. I just want to be able to do it!

#31: Read the Bible.

I've officially added another item to My List. Welcome to #31: Read the Bible. I began this one a few months ago but never truly added it to the list. On the way to the Newman Center Spring Retreat this weekend, I had a very productive thinking session which resulted in several decisions and new thoughts. One of these included the addition of the Bible to My List. It'll take a few years but I'll get there! =)

Registering for #29: Complete a Triathlon

So I'm officially registered for The Triathlon.

It's perfect.

8/28/2010: Perfect for many reasons. It's my grandpa's birthday, as well as that of my childhood idol Shania Twain. It's at the end of the Summer, so I have the whole season to train and it's not awkward to take time off from work. It'll be warm... including the water!

All Girls: Meaning no pressure, and more friendly competition. =)

Newbie Class: the night before the triathlon, to teach all us first-timers what to do.

Kalamazoo: not too far from home but far enough that it'll be an adventure.

Basically it's gonna be epic. I'm stoked. And kinda freaking out. But at least Dana's doing it with me!!! Now to convince Brian that it's not worth watching...

Completing #22: Save a Life!

January 29, 2010 = Epic.

We saved a baby!

U of M's Students for Life group sends a small group of volunteers out to the local Planned Parenthood every Friday and Saturday (days when abortions occur) year round to do sidewalk counseling. Due to classes, work, and a general nervousness about it, I have never been able to go. This morning, however, was different. I got up early, put on five layers of clothes, and headed out in the -5 degree windchill to stand with the other young adults
from our club for the first time ever.

What a great experience it was.

A young woman got out of her car to walk into the clinic when Elise, a fellow student, called out to her that we cared and that we had resources for her if she wanted them. She asked what they were, and we called back that we had other options for her, that we had seen people hurt by abortion and that we didn't want that to happen to her. She walked in. We thought we had lost.

15 minutes later, she came back out! She came over and asked how long we had been standing there. We told her we'd been there for a few hours and handed her some information. She asked questions about how far along she was, what to expect inside the clinic, what other options we could offer her, and after sharing a few stories, she went back inside. 

We began to pray.

Over an hour and a half later, after we'd about given up hope, she came back outside with the words "I DIDN'T DO IT GUYS! I DIDN'T DO IT!" I wasn't there but Elise said that she looked like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. =)

I'm pretty sure that was the most epic thing I've ever crossed off the list. Ever.

The courage shown by that young woman can only be that of our Lord. I have never felt the power of prayer as much as I felt it during that rosary. Those 5 small decades held so much hope, so much strength, so much faith... I felt it. So did she, apparently, because inside those hard, cold walls, she stood up for the truth. Please keep her in your prayers -- she needs ongoing prayer for an ongoing decision to keep her baby to term. Her tiny baby needs our prayers as well, as do all of the women that enter those doors each day.

Thank the Lord for that tiny baby!

Not-technically-on-the-list-but-I-did-it-anyway: Winning Something

So here's the deal. Textsfromlastnight expanded from their website to facebook, where each college that is worth anything has a textsfromlastnight group. You send in a funny text you've received and people vote on it by "liking" the post, and then at the end of the week, the administrators announce the winner.

Get this. I won.

Super exciting, right?! I never win anything!

Here's the super exciting announcement:

Amin Haririnia: Congratulations to Sarah Elizabeth Osentoski!! Your text from last night won the "Text of the Week" with 39 "likes" It said: (734): I bet traffic in columbus is nice. Because that's where osu is.(1-734): You're probably right. All the osu students are probably staying on campus for break since no one likes them enough to invite them home for christmas.

Keep the posts coming and don't forget to vote!

Take that Brian. I totes whooped you with not only a good comeback but a win on a website. Which is like a super win because I never win. =)