Race on the Base

Done. Finished. PR'd! It was a good morning all and all, minus the downpour and the 14mph headwinds ... Basically, my legs are feeeeeling it.

fri am ... beautiful

Happy, happy birthday

Happy birthday to two of my all time favorite people.

2.26

Josh: one of my favorite people, on one of my most memorable days

one of my other favorite people, David, who is currently overseas. (This picture just makes me laugh!)
miss you, brother

won't scream in my head and let it isolate me

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I won't mistake you for problems with me

I won't let my moods ruin this you'll see

I won't take everything good and move it away

I won't be left dancing along to songs from the past

Nicely said. 

(If you listen to the song, forgive the video)

Birthday Week

Ever since high school, this week has been known as "Birthday Week". Not just because my birthday falls on the 28th, but also because two of my favorite people in high school had birthday on the 25th, and 26th. Since our group was fairly inseparable and ALWAYS together, it was always just celebrated as "Birthday Week".

So, here's to "Birthday Week"

A page from my high school scrapbook

As the kick off of Birthday Week, this tribute is to Kevin, who's b.day is the 25th. 

cut clear as you wander

This has been a crazy busy week for me thus far. I cannot even think straight, so therefore my sentences will just get bulleted. -- Bare with me ---

• Right in the thick of my last semester of grad school. (And  trying to write a good paper for my Shakespeare elective ..!??!)
• First regatta for the guys coming up in 10 days (Davis, Stanford, Sac State .. YIKES!)
• Have 5am practices again to get the right line ups on the water, and OF COURSE I only get 7 guys that show up.. UGH! 
• Last week of long training for my 3rd sprint triathlon on Saturday! .. This mornings work out was so great. By 9am I had biked 20 miles, done an ab circuit, cooled down for 30 on the elliptical, stretched, showered, ate my knock off raisin bran, and made it into the office. 
• Trying to remain optimistic about turning 24 (it's not an age thing, it's a nobody cares thing)
• Planning an Orange County fundraiser ... a USC British BBQ ... and trying to rally with 30 parents who hopefully actually want to help
• Stuffing 1,022 envelops for the "Erg-A-Thon Challange" has been an incredible waste of my time, but someone had to do it ... (still have 83 left staring me in the face, but I currently refuse)
• Really missing my best friend -- I'll spare you the whoa is me.
• Really procrastinating at this point, so I'll just get back to work and consider writing something a bit more uplifting and thoughtful later on!

row, row, row your boat

 

i love coaching rowing 

... and marine  life

row-mance

Bahwston

To keep it simple, Boston was beautiful. it was cold, it was windy, and i loved it. got to experience some new things, watch the 4 time repeat Olympic medalist Dutch Lighweight team have a training session, and take part in the C.R.A.S.H.-B's. Icoxed as two gentlemen pulled their personal bests and watched 2 of the others finish 31st and 55th out of 200. And witnessing a 5:48.7 2k was pretty awesome. Although it was Valentines day and not a single person said happy v-day or anything of the sort to me, (not even my family ... thanks guys), i was still able to enjoy all of the beautiful beautiful national rowers. Happy "Row-mance" Day indeed. 

If you'd like the extended version you can scan the USC Men's Crew Press Release.

Annnd I got to use robbie!!!

the Freedom Trail, at night in the snow

Dutch lightweights ...yeah, HE is a lightweight

 Standing on top of the Charles River at Harvards Boathouse

Me coxing Trent who PR'd at 6:29

the top 31 competitors

AAAARRRRG

So after a busy trip to Boston and a final computer keyboard malfunction, I think I'm finally back on the internet grid! I know you all missed me. I swear I'll be catching you up soon on all my happenings.

The day I got back from Boston I had had enough with my computer and it not having the keys C,E,D or 3. Which, with a name like Chelsea are pretty important! I dropped it at a local computer store (The Computer Place) and they call me 6 hrs later to tell me that it will cost me $128 for a new keyboard, $140 to install it, and that they wont have the part until friday .. WWWHHAAT??! So i call Dell to price a new keyboard. It's 47 dollars ... and they can over night it for an addtional 16 dollars. Done deal. I'll have it shipped to the computer store and pick it up tomorrow and only get gouged for the labor. False. Next day I get an email from Dell that might as well have said sike, you don't get you keyboard until 2.24.10. Too long. So I finally get so frustrated that I just go and pick up my laptop, cancel by dell order, and bought this ....

 

A mini, flexible, roll up, water proof keyboard. It costs 19.99 ... and it's adorable!!!

Me and my dysfunctional computer love it.

 

Tomorrow ... BOSTON PICTURES!!!

i think i'll go to boston ...

WAHHOO!!!!

Tomorrow morning getting on a plane an heading to Boston!! Photos to come soon!

and its everywhere else that I don't wanna be

Finally, a comment I can agree with!

"Uggs have officially taken over the footwear game for women. The march of the clones is upon us, as it seems like four out of every five women can be spotted marching down any given street with fat, furry ankles stamped with an Achilles “Ugg.” Ugg boots have morphed into a mega trend that is used and abused by lazy women around the world. While they are a fabulous solution to the wet, snowy, frigid weather that repels every other footwear trend, Ugg boots have been pushed beyond their utilitarian limits. A classic example of this gross misuse is women wearing Ugglies in the summer. This is as bizarre as putting a snow man on your lawn in July (and wrong, just wrong)."

Taken from THIS.

REALLY PEOPLE ...they are atrocious. (Sorry to those of you read this and own them, but if you know me, you'd know I'd tell you to your face how I really feel about them)

Some of my favorite photos to reiterate their point and my opinion ....

Enough said .... But Kitty says it best ... 

winners never quit, but winters never rest

cheap ploy or fancy new packaging?

Hmmm........

a convenient package of daily everything and then some ... i believe that there are upsides to this ... but that it is still a fad to get people to spend some extra dollars!

Before reading their take on it below, my opinion (which is by no means of any value to anyone but my self) I think the placebo effect paired with a little bit of caffiene, omega 3,6, and 9, niacin, vitamin E, and fish oil can't be all that terrible ... but should never be that expensive!!! 50 bucks for more ethan month is as much as a gym membership!!!

GNC Wellbeing™ be-HOT Turbopak:

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And it's all these days that kept us so far away

Blowing Kisses

 

I have the cutest nephew ever

Are we getting closer, or are we just getting more lost?

Finally ... after a few months .... i learned how to set up my logitech camera and hooked up my Skype acct. My name or user thingy is chelsea.eckelkamp (original indeed). SOOO if you want to chat with me in "person" I'm officially up and running in the art of video chat.

 

My Skype "WeeMe".. and Kujo..

these lights are only here to lead us in the wrong direction

 

 Rain, rain, GO AWAY.

Just kidding, I actually like the rain. And I find it refreshing. 

Sitting on a launch and coaching in it .. not quite as refreshing. But with as much fun as this morning was (sike) I am kind of looking forward to it again tomorrow .. with better rain gear of course

Tis all. 

here the seasons don't exist, a summer held in hand

PS. I got the opportunity to see my best friend's amazing wedding photos today .. and the consensus is .. I miss her. A lot. If you need me, I'll be in Hawaii ...

Her Awesome Photographers Website

pieces falling from me, you can have them for free

Dear J. Crew,

Please quit sending me your catalog unless you are going to start sending me all the great things I cannot afford. Oh, and the tall lanky legs to pull off your attire, that is all. Orrrr just an attractive man who's closet is stocked with nothing but your clothes.

With Love, Chelsea