Another Newbie!

catelka1284

Hello!  I've been lurking on this board for a while and figured I might as well introduce myself...
 
Screen Name: Catelka1284 (call me Cat for short)
Age: 27
Significant Other's Age: 27
What You Do: Social Worker with teens & families
What SO Does: Mechanical Engineer
State of Relationship: Living together >6months
How Long You've Been Together: almost 5 years
How You Met: at a friend's engagement party- his best friend eventually married my friend
Wedding Date (if you're engaged/married): Not yet
Real Babies: None
Fur Babies: 2- 10 month old puppies, Iggy & Bowie
Loves: Bonfires, Chocolate, Dancing, Avocados
Hates: Coconut, Student Loans
Pet Peeves: Misusing your/there, although I guarantee I've done it. 
Hobbies/Activities: Running/Working out, Gluten Free Baking (well, I love regular baking, but no more gluten for me), Reading
Favorite Thing About Your SO: His sense of humor and how he tries so hard to make me feel better when I'm down/sick.
Least Favorite Thing About Your SO: He's pretty darn messy and dirt/messes don't bother him, which bothers me even more.
Describe Your Personality: Calm, Nerdy, Silly, Empathetic, & a Good Listener - I am a therapist, so I would hope so
Snark Level (1 [low snark] - 10 [high snark]): It varies depending on the situation, so probably between a 4 & 7.
I've Been On TK Since: May, but looked before when friends got married
How You Came to Be On TK: SO & I have been talking about getting engaged and budgets.  We know we'll be covering all the expenses and wanted to figure out what would be feasible given the number of people we want.  He told me to research prices and what not so we can figure out how long it will take to save for the kind of wedding we want.  TK has been a good resource.
How I like my potatoes: Sweet, cut up and baked like fries.
Favorite book/author: I read a lot of books about mental health and teens for work, which are some of my faves.  My favorite leisure book is Wicked by Gregory Maguire.  The musical is awesome too, but I LOVE the book.
Tell Us Something Interesting About Yourself: I am a big nerd and love learning/school.  Less than a year after my last round of school, I was already starting to research what I could do next.  I was smart enough to wait and just read a lot for the time being. 

catelka1284

I also wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to all of you posters out there.  I had been getting very worked up about us not being engaged and driving myself nuts about the 5.2 million (give or take) weddings that are happening around us for people who met after we did.  Reading your comments and advice in other posts has been so reassuring.  It has given me great perspective to stop actin a fool and enjoy where SO and I are right now instead of rushing because "it's been 5 years."  So, thanks again

thejucheidea

You're the fourth gluten-free poster that I'm aware of on the NEY board! Welcome to the fold! I just made some gluten free sourdough rolls yesterday and am working on some gluten free lasagne right now (using slices of polenta instead of noodles). How long have you been GF?

catelka1284

Thanks!  I always love meeting other people who're gluten-free.  I've been GF and dairy free (although milk chocolate may somehow end up in my mouth sometimes) since May 2011 for intolerance/sensitivity to both.  You? 

Sourdough rolls are my favorite and I've yet to find a decent brand/recipe.  If you wouldn't mine sharing yours, I'd love to try it.  I am always up for passing along good GF info since it can be hard to come by.

thejucheidea

I've been GF since 2006 after being diagnosed with celiac disease.

And here's the recipe!

2 c brown rice flour
1 1/2 c sorghum flour
3 c tapioca starch
2 T yeast
1 T kosher salt
2 T xanthan gum
2 2/3 c lukewarm water
4 eggs
1/3 c oil
2 T honey

Mix everything together. Pour everything into a large, lidless container with a towel over it and allow to rise for two hours. Refrigerate in the same container with a shower cap or plastic wrap on top of it -- I let it ferment in there for two or three days. When you're ready to bake, pull it out of the fridge and, with wet hands, form into balls. Drop the bottom of each ball in cornmeal then set them on parchment paper on the counter. Allow to rise again for 90 minutes. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Take a roasting pan and place it in the oven when it's preheating. When the oven is heated, place all of the rolls on a greased cookie sheet and place in oven. Pour one or two cups of water into the roasting pan and immediately close the oven -- the water bath helps make a chewy outside. Cook for 25-30 minutes.

My mom got the recipe from a book called 'Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day', but I played around with it to make rolls instead of one big boule.

flygirlmeg

Welcome Cat!  And thank you for lurking before posting and introducing yourself.  We like that!! 

Pics of furbabies please?

thejucheidea

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_another-newbie-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:7fdc1c16-a4da-450c-9b86-1402f01c53faPost:18824952-4515-4402-af0b-2e781fa91849">Re: Another Newbie!</a>:
[QUOTE]Welcome Cat!  And thank you for lurking before posting and introducing yourself.  We like that!!
Posted by flygirlmeg[/QUOTE]
This!!

ravenray

Welcome!
Tell me why you like the book Wicked so much.  I am  very interested.

Vintagelove4

Wicked is such a good book! Welcome!!
Pics of furbabies?
What's your favorite dessert?

Peaseblossom55

welcome Cat.

Did you ever see Wicked on stage?  If you do get the chance go, it is wonderful.

dewingedpixie

Welcome Cat. I'm GF too this is my 9th year. I was diagnosed with Celiac in 2004 . I also love running. Do you do races like marathons?

peekaboo2011

Titfaces TK, I totes responded to this like 5 hours ago. Hi OP! I'm also GF since 2008. Please to stick around. We could have a fancy club at this rate. Any favorite ridiculous words? Titfaces might be one of my new favorites, as I just made it up

catelka1284

ahstillwell: thanks for the recipe- I can’t wait to try it!

ravenray: I enjoyed Wicked because it reminded me of the Wizard of Oz & how much I loved it as a kid, but in a totally different way.  I read a lot of the other books Maguire wrote and I really like Wicked and its sequel Son of a Witch.  I can’t say if it’s the best writing because I’ll read just about anything, but I really got lost in the book and couldn’t wait to read more about the characters. What types of books do you like?

lilyrose: I’m glad you love Wicked!  Favorite dessert is probably peanut butter chocolate ice cream.

danser: I have seen Wicked and I was in heaven the whole time.

dewingedpixie: I really like races, but haven’t done a marathon.  I’ve done up to a ½ and was training for another one up until about a week ago when I saw the doctor for knee pain & have to go to physical therapy.  Do you race?

hellotarra: I’m afraid of pintrest- I get sucked in to things like so easily so I haven’t checked it out yet.  Hunger Games are on my to-read list for the summer & I’m really excited.  I do love arts and crafts, the day camp counselor in me will never die.  My mom is also an artist (painting, drawing, photography, graphic design…), so it’s ingrained in me.  What are your favorite art supplies?

peekaboo: I’m ready for a fancy GF club.  One of my favorite made up words a co-worker enlightened me with… douche-canoe

Thanks for the warm welcome!  Here's what you've really been waiting for... PUPPIES!
  This is my favorite, from the day we got them and they were so cute that I couldn't get mad at them for eating the mail and my towels.
(Bowie left, Iggy right)

 Bowie being a classy broad.

peekaboo2011

Pinterest is amazing.  Don't be afraid.  Just do it.

lovelyheather

I just saw Wicked this weekend!  And I read the book a couple weeks ago too.  It was so good!  Have you read the other books in the Wicked series or any other books by Maguire?  I just read Mirror, Mirror as well (and am always looking for new reading material!).

Welcome!

dewingedpixie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_another-newbie-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:7fdc1c16-a4da-450c-9b86-1402f01c53faPost:59f3cee5-f14a-4eef-9d54-9a19af0e47ae">Re: Another Newbie!</a>:
[QUOTE] @ dewingedpixie : I really like races, but haven’t done a marathon.  I’ve done up to a ½ and was training for another one up until about a week ago when I saw the doctor for knee pain & have to go to physical therapy.  Do you race? Posted by catelka1284[/QUOTE]

I've done a little of everything except full marathon which I cant do for medical reasons. I've run 5k to half marathon, triathlon, and 100 mile bicycle races. This year I'm going to do a half ironman triathlon for charity. Next year I am toggling with the idea of an aquavelo (the ironman distances of the swim and bike without the 26.2 run) rather than the triathlon I was considering just before the wedding but I've decided I'll make that decision after this race is done.

catelka1284

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_another-newbie-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:7fdc1c16-a4da-450c-9b86-1402f01c53faPost:b2fc955a-00a6-44fb-949f-dedc9e05d860">Re: Another Newbie!</a>:
[QUOTE]I just saw Wicked this weekend!  And I read the book a couple weeks ago too.  It was so good!  Have you read the other books in the Wicked series or any other books by Maguire?  I just read Mirror, Mirror as well (and am always looking for new reading material!). Welcome!
Posted by lovelyheather[/QUOTE]

<div>I read several of Maguire's books about 4 years ago so my memory is a little rusty.  I did like Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister.  I didn't really like Lost, so I wouldn't recommend that one.  The Wicked series is definitely my favorite.  Son of a Witch is a close second to Wicked for me.  The third one is about the Lion and I didn't like it as much.  My SO got me the final book for my birthday, but I haven't read it yet.</div>

catelka1284

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_another-newbie-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:7fdc1c16-a4da-450c-9b86-1402f01c53faPost:3ec0269b-dc23-423d-80fb-0cc671ca6526">Re: Another Newbie!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Another Newbie! : I've done a little of everything except full marathon which I cant do for medical reasons. I've run 5k to half marathon, triathlon, and 100 mile bicycle races. This year I'm going to do a half ironman triathlon for charity. Next year I am toggling with the idea of an aquavelo (the ironman distances of the swim and bike without the 26.2 run) rather than the triathlon I was considering just before the wedding but I've decided I'll make that decision after this race is done.
Posted by dewingedpixie[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Congratulations!  That is quite an impressive track record.  I'm thinking about doing a mini tri to see if I can hack it.  How long did it take you to work up to these really long races?  Good luck with all of your training!

</div>

dewingedpixie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_another-newbie-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:7fdc1c16-a4da-450c-9b86-1402f01c53faPost:37f1668a-3565-445a-9d37-b05fcf896203">Re: Another Newbie!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Another Newbie! : Congratulations!  That is quite an impressive track record.  I'm thinking about doing a mini tri to see if I can hack it.  How long did it take you to work up to these really long races?  Good luck with all of your training!
Posted by catelka1284[/QUOTE]

The triathlon was the easiest for me to train for. It was also the easiest to complete. It took me about 3 months to put everything together. This half ironman is about 5-6 months of training bu the distances are twice as far. I view triathlon as the endurance sport for those with ADD, unless you're doing a half iron or full iron you never do any one thing long enough to really get bored. Its also the easiest on the body because the transition goes from laying down, to sitting, and then last to standing. If you want to do a tri make sure your swimming is in order, open water swims are different than in the pool. This is often the leg that is the most difficult for new triathletes. I did my first one backstroke in 50 minutes the swim was .9 miles the half iron has a 1.25 mile swim I can do that freestyle now in 40-45 minutes.

The half marathon and 10 milers about 12 weeks to prep for. Marathons and half marathons are probably the most gruling on your body, unless you do a power man (which is gruling due to the lactic thresh-hold). However I think they are also the most rewarding to complete because you only have you and your body to get you to the end.

The 100 miles on a bike 4 months. I am not a super fan of century rides. Being slightly ADD I will tell you these are the hardest mentally. After so many miles the miles all look the same you just want to be done. I love riding my bike having the wind in my hair and the speed in my legs but I wont lie after 100 miles you are just spent its exhausting mentally. I am a major fan of the metric century 62 miles its just long enough to push you but not long enough to get you to that didnt I ride past this 3 times already point.

The good news is once you get into the shape to do one of these activities it remains mostly maintenance with peaks in mileage and rest periods. Its just building that base to start that can be hard.

catelka1284

Thanks for all of your tips.  I did a half about 2 years ago and was supposed to do another last Sept, but got sick the day before.  This other one is in about 4 weeks and I don't think my body can handle it.  My Dr. told me I probably will never be able to do that distance again if I want to have functional knees, so I'm really looking for other challenges and a tri is starting to sound more and more doable.