Comments (19)

By kilax, August 31, 2010 11:04 pm

Two blogger meet-ups in one week?! Lucky me!

As you know, I met up with Amanda (Vegacious) on Friday on my way to Kansas City. When I wrote all about it, Lauren (When I get a little, run run run…) told me she would be in KC on Tuesday and asked if I wanted to meet up.

Of course!

I made sure to remove the GIANT bowls of tortilla chips out of the picture. Ha!

I first found Lauren’s blog back in December when we participated in a holiday gift exchange and were assigned to each other. I didn’t know any AZ bloggers at the time, and loved reading about how she could actually run outside in nice weather during the “winter” months! Ha ha.

It was great to take a break tonight and have a nice, light-hearted conversation (not saying anything about Lauren’s conversational skills – just that that’s all I could handle!). Lauren is very personable and easy to talk to. I could tell that we could have talked and talked and talked, especially since she’s has a structural engineer degree and I have an architectural degree! Ha. We could tease each other for ages. I hope we get to meet up again sometime, when I am not trying to get back to the hospital at a decent hour…

We talked a bit about twitter and Lauren told me that’s where it’s at (or, that’s where she likes to dish). Who else uses twitter? What do you like/dislike about it?

Honestly, I haven’t checked it out much, but I am kind of curious…

Comments (33)

By kilax, August 30, 2010 8:30 pm

Amanda (Run to the Finish) wrote a fun “Runners Etiquette” blog post. I recommend checking it out! Those lists are always so fun to read and add to! Item number 3 interested me (taken from her post):

DON’T WEAR THE RACE SHIRT ON RACE DAY: Race shirts state that you have already completed that race, on race day you have not completed that race..stop wearing the shirt! Caveat: If the race gives out bright orange shirts like Pumpkin Run specifically because it’s only Halloween and you will never wear that shirt again, or it’s the Komen walk and you want to promote the cause then it’s ok. End Caveat.

Most of the commenters agreed with her. However, this is something that does not bother me at all. In fact, I have done it! Check out my race recaps page – I have done it quite a bit. I like to be matchy.

Oops?

Of course, now, I realize I need a more “technical” top and cotton’s not going to cut it. But why does this bother so many runners? Tell me what you think!

Do you think it’s wrong to wear a race shirt on race day? Why or why not?

And of course, the poll below, for you guilty culprits to fess up!

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Comments (23)

By kilax, August 29, 2010 1:38 pm

My next race is the Chicago Half Marathon on September 12. I am also training for the Chicago Marathon on October 10.

Don’t forget to enter my ViewSPORT shirt and watch giveaway!

Day 309 | August 23, 2010: 3 m run + strength

Steven and I ran 3 miles around our neighborhood. I thought this would be an easy run, but I felt out of shape during it! I guess I’m still getting back in to the running grove. Frustrating.

Notice our twin-sy shoes in the picture above? Steven got a pair of Brooks Adrenaline 10s! I hope they work – he’s had some serious blister issues with past shoes!

Distance: 3.0 | Temp: 76° | Time: 30:31 | Avg Pace: 10:10 | 1: 10:21 | 2: 10:10 | 3: 9:57

Strength + Stretch (done during my lunch break):

Day 310 | August 24, 2010: cross + yoga

During lunch I rode the recumbent bike. Late in the evening, I did the YogaWorks 45-min Beginners DVD… while making Chex Mix for Christina’s party. Hmm, is that why the Chex Mix got kind of burnt? I thought it still tasted good!

Funny thing – I did this same yoga workout on Sunday but my neck was so sore I could barely move it. On Tuesday though, I felt fine. I wonder if I was tense in my neck during my long run on Saturday. Do you tense up in your neck and shoulders during runs?

Recumbent Bike Time: 40:00 | Distance: 6.34 | Average Speed: 9.51 mph | Set on “Random Hills”

Day 311 | August 25, 2010: 5 m run + strength

These lower temperature (71°) runs are so easy and fun. It’s crazy what a difference the temperature makes! I wish every run felt this invigorating.

We went to the Rollins Savanna. Steven ran 4 miles and I ran 5. The run was really great, except for all of the bugs flying into our faces – that is what you get though, running so close to dusk. Pretty soon, I won’t even be able to make it to these forest preserves in the evenings anymore. They “close” at sunset.

Distance: 5.0 | Start Temp: 71° | End Temp: 66° | Time: 49:48 | Avg Pace: 9:57 | 1: 10:00 | 2: 10:18 | 3: 10:21 | 4: 9:51 | 5: 9:15

Strength + Stretch (done during my lunch break):

Day 312 | August 26, 2010: yoga

I did the YogaWorks 45-min Beginners DVD. I wasn’t multi-tasking this time, but I was distracted.

Day 313 | August 27, 2010: 13 m run

What an interesting run. I originally had plans to hit up the trails at 6:30 am, but my plans changed… and I needed to be out the door at 5:00 am! So I started running in my neighborhood until the sun came up, then made my way to the nearby Nippersink Forest Preserve (two miles away). However, on the way there (mile 7) I started having very strong pain in my left knee. So I only ran one loop there, then came back home, in case the pain worsened. I was able to run all 13 miles, but I immediately took an ice bath and need to keep watch on that knee. It ached the rest of the day.

Run stats: I walked one-minute at mile 3, 7, and 10. I took a vanilla gingerbread GU at 7, and drank less than 32 ounces of water throughout the run. Quite a bit less than last week, but there was about a 15-degree temperature difference. Woo hoo!

Other than the knee pain, this was a great run. Although, I am NOT listening to a podcast about someone having to euthanize their cat again during a run. I started crying at mile 11!

Some of the pretty views on the way back to our house:

Distance: 13.0 | Start Temp: 58° | End Temp: 61° | Time: 2:26:33 | Avg Pace: 11:16 | 1: 11:00 | 2: 11:08 | 3: 11:05 | 4: 11:25 | 5: 11:14 | 6: 10:54 | 7: 11:03 | 8: 11:42 | 9: 11:37 | 10: 11:23 | 11: 12:02 | 12: 11:09 | 13: 10:44

Day 314 | August 28, 2010: rest

Day 315 | August 29, 2010: 8 m run

Steven and I went to bed just before 5:00 AM so I had two choices for this run – sleep for an hour or so and run at sunrise, in the 70-degree temps, or wait until later in the morning/afternoon, when it would get in to the 90s.  So, which would you choose – 9 cooler miles on little sleep, or 9 hotter miles with a bit more sleep?

I had my alarm going off every few hours, but I couldn’t get up for the cooler temps. My run ended up starting just before 11:00. I ran back and forth on a one-mile concrete trail that is just behind Steven’s parent’s home in Kansas City. About half of the trail is shaded, but the open sun parts were very intense, even with a slight breeze. My knee held out great though and I enjoyed the run. Well, until mile 6.5 when I ran out of water and the woman on the podcast was talking about when she was in the hospital and no one would give her any water. That was making me crazy.

Run stats: I walked one-minute at mile 3 and 6. I drank 32 oz of water by mile 6.5 – a sign I need more water when it’s in the high 80s/low 90s. I wore my Brooks Adrenaline 10s without the inserts. I took a cool bath (with a bit of ice) when I got back to the house.

Look who I saw:

I also saw a baby deer, but he passed two quickly for me to snap a picture! (When I told Steven I saw a turtle and a deer, he asked if they were traveling together. I told him yes, that the turtle was riding on the deer. Steven then asked if they were on their way to a car show. I think Steven needs more sleep! Ha ha. He cracks me up.)

Distance: 8.0 | Start Temp: 83° | End Temp: 92° | Time: 1:32:49 | Avg Pace: 11:35 | 1: 10:57 | 2: 11:06 | 3: 10:57 | 4: 11:43 | 5: 11:20 | 6: 11:46 | 7: 12:31 | 8: 12:24

Week Summary: 29.00 miles

I was really happy with the workouts I got in this week – I did everything I wanted to except maybe a long bike ride. However, to fit that all in, I did a few two-a-days. I am not sure if that is something I can stick with, so I will just have to do it when I can!

The knee pain on Friday morning really worried me. But then, I realized it’s not that important. Me being able to run anyway. It feels really important to me, but there are more important things in life, so I can only do the best to take care of myself and see where that gets me!

Comments (21)

By kilax, August 28, 2010 5:58 pm

Thank you for your comments yesterday on the family emergency. We have a family member in severe condition and I appreciate your thoughts!

I had to drive from Round Lake, IL to Kansas City, MO yesterday. Instead of going straight there though, I made a few stops on the way (the trip ended up being 570 miles) – in Evansdale/Cedar Falls to see my parents and sister, and in Ames to grab dinner with Amanda, from Vegacious.

I find it amusing that I don’t mind talking on the phone with a blogger and look forward to meeting with them for the first time, but that I don’t like doing that sort of thing for work. Is anyone else like that – are you more comfortable with meeting/talking to other bloggers than you are in other social situations?

I’m not saying I am a social misfit (well, that much), just that I find myself more comfortable talking to bloggers – probably because I already know a bit about them.

Anyway, back to the point. I found Amanda’s blog about two weeks ago through the “blogs by location” function on Healthy Living Blogs. I was looking at bloggers in Iowa, and was excited to see one in Ames, where I went to school. I started commenting, and even won a giveway on her blog. So when I was driving through Ames, I thought, “why not meet up for dinner?”

Meeting with Amanda went like many of the other blogger meet-ups I’ve done. You talk and talk and don’t want it to end! Unfortunately, I did have to get on the road, so I hope I will get to visit with her again someday! She’s really down to earth and excited about life… which I love.

So why the post title? Amanda took a few pictures of our food with her new Canon Rebel, then we had the waitress take a picture of us together. From Steven’s Canon Elph (which I use):

From her Rebel:

Ugh. Those DSLRs take amazing pictures! So much clearer! Look at the pictures here she took of our food. It looks like it is from a magazine.

It would be fun to play around with one of those cameras someday.

Comments (28)

By kilax, August 27, 2010 4:55 am

How did you celebrate your 21st birthday? If you aren’t 21 yet, how do you plan to celebrate?

My sister Christina turned 21 on Wednesday, and is having a party this weekend in Guttenberg, IA (on the Mississippi River) with family and friends. Look at the cute invites she sent:

I think the plan is to take her inaugural drink at the seedy bar Wack’s in Glen Haven, WI, as well as hang out at the beach and enjoy some other alcoholic beverages, now that she’s legal.* Ha. It should be a fun weekend (unfortunately, due to a family emergency, I can no longer attend, but I will be there in spirit)!

I also spent my 21st birthday weekend in Guttenberg, IA. Just like I did this year, and almost every year in between (except for the year I was in Rome for my birthday).

2005 was the year that RAGBRAI ended in Guttenberg, so we spent some time watching the bicyclists come in the day before my birthday.

RAGBRAI goes across Iowa, from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River. So the bicyclists dip their back wheel in the Missouri when they start, and their front wheel in the Mississippi when they end. Cool, huh?!

Erin, don’t forget, you told me we would do a leg of RAGBRAI this year with me. We better start thinking of our team name…

“Team Megasuarus” (“Mega-Sore-Ass”)

The rest of my 21st birthday was spent hanging out with family, doing the beach thing, and the eating thing. It wasn’t a big “drinking” weekend for me. I think my aunt tried to get me to drink some weird concoction she made, but I took one sip then poured it down the drain later.

Notice how no one is watching me blow out my candles? Nice.

My nephew was so small then!

My dad’s parents came, as well as my cousins from Wisconsin. It’s so fun to get all of the family together there!

*I talked to Christina yesterday and she had quite the day on Wednesday… so she thought she would pass on alcohol this weekend.

Comments (39)

By kilax, August 26, 2010 7:00 pm

Remember my post about ViewSPORT workout tops – the ones that have an image show up when you get sweaty (before and after pic below)?

Well, the ViewSPORT Media Management team saw my post and sent me an email to thank me for spreading the word about ViewSPORT. And as a thank you, they sent me and a reader a ViewSPORT shirt AND a watch to try out (like the watch the model has on in the picture on the right)! How awesome is that?! If you wanted to try one, now is your chance!

A bit about ViewSPORT:

ViewSPORT™ began as an idea during long workouts. Having no real measure of the work done during each workout, the idea of a shirt that shows a design when you sweat was born. But how was Sweat Activated Technology created? The technology was developed at a workbench in 2009 by Ben Wood, chemist and Head Coach. In early 2010, Ben partnered with Joe Yacano, incorporated and began the patent process for the Sweat Activated Technology.

Like minds and ideas have fostered an environment which seeks to promote creative freedom. ViewSPORT™ is a US company that doesn’t operate like conventional corporate America. We use US goods and services. We welcome all people who seek meaning in their work.

Furthermore, part of our mission is to provide the motivated athlete with a new tool which can be used as a visible measure of their sweat equity.

We want people to be healthy. Part being healthy is having clean, drinkable water. We believe that everyone should have access to clean drinking water. That is why a portion of every sale will be donated to a world water foundation for global Clean Water Research.

It’s neat that ViewSPORT is on the cutting edge of technology with their products. And not to mention, they are a US company that supports global Clean Water Research!

Thank you so much for this opportunity, ViewSPORT!

Giveaway Details:

This is two giveaways – one for a women’s large “I am the competition” shirt as seen above and below, and a one for the watch. One reader will receive the shirt and one will receive the watch (men, please enter for the watch!).

Giveaway Rules:

1. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment telling me what workout you would do in a ViewSPORT Sweat Activated Technology top and how long you think it would take for the image to appear.
2. To get an extra entry, link to the giveaway in your blog, and leave me another comment linking to your post.
3. And for a bonus entry, “like” ViewSPORT’s facebook page (link here) and leave me another comment telling me you did.
4. This giveaway is open until 5:00 PM CST on Wednesday September 1 (our anniversary!). I will use random.org to select the winners. I will announce the winners on Thursday September 2.
5. This giveaway is open to all readers.

Comments (29)

By kilax, August 23, 2010 5:30 am

We were pleasantly surprised to find ONE pepper growing in our garden (will this be all we get from SIX pepper plants?).

Hmm, too bad it is MINIATURE.

Oh wait. Maybe it isn’t, compared to this carrot:

Ha! So, you’ve been in the ground for over 3 months and that is all the bigger you get? Hmm. Maybe this carrot needs some sort of enhancing drugs.

We’ve been neglecting our garden. I am not sure if it’s because we’re busy, or lazy (Can you be busy and lazy at the same time? I say, yes). Either way, it is still* giving us some edible food (our first “big” tomatoes, and yes, a few more green beans!):

Do you ever start projects and lose interest in them?

That hasn’t really happened to us with the garden (although talking about it made me think to ask that). But like I said, we have been neglecting it and filling our free time with other activities.

I think I am less likely to start something and lose interest in it, than I am to make a huge to-do list and not get a lot of it done. Once I start something, I think I do usually like to follow-through (although, maybe I am not seeing a part of myself… people who know me should chime in). I tend to get pretty obsessed/compulsive about things I am excited about, and do them to the extreme. Hmm, could this be a relation to running injuries?

*And still an overgrown mess!

Comments (13)

By kilax, August 22, 2010 6:54 pm

FYI: There are a bunch of pictures in this post – please let me know if they show up in your reader! They sometimes don’t in mine.

My next race is the Chicago Half Marathon on September 12. I am also training for the Chicago Marathon on October 10.

Running Highlight of the week: New PDR – 16 miles! (Yes, 16 slow miles – I wonder if I should not have registered for the 10:30-11:00 pace group for the 20 miler)

Day 302 | August 16, 2010: strength + stretch

Pectoral Fly: 2 x 15 @ 45 lb, 15 @ 60 lb
Arm Curl: 3 x 15 @ 25 lb
Lat Pulldowns: 15 @ 45 lb, 2 x 15 @ 60 lb
Shoulder Press: 3 x 15 @ 20 lb
Biangular Lat Row: 15 @ 45 lb, 2 x 15 @ 60 lb
Hip Abduction: 3 x 15 @ 115 lb
Hip Adduction: 3 x 15 @ 55 lb
Biangular Chest Press: 15 @ 30 lb, 2 x 15 @ 50 lb
Leg Curl: 15 @ 30 lb, 15 @ 40 lb, 15 @ 20 lb
Seated Leg Press: 15 @ 90 lb, 15 @ 110 lb, 15 @ 130 lb

Day 303 | August 17, 2010: 6 m run

Whoa, what’s this?

71°?! That was was unexpected!

This started out as speedwork, but quickly became a normal run after my legs started acting up (behind left knee and in stress fracture areas) and Steven’s hip flexors started giving him problems. We got two speedwork miles in around 9:00, then ran at a normal pace.

This run felt SO GOOD and SO EASY. I like this kind of weather!

Distance: 6.0 | Time: 1:00:46 | Avg Pace: 10:07

Day 304 | August 18, 2010: strength

Rope Pushdowns: 3 x 15 @ 30 lb
Pectoral Fly: 2 x 15 @ 45 lb, 15 @ 60 lb
Arm Curl: 3 x 15 @ 25 lb
Biangular Chest Press: 15 @ 30 lb, 2 x 15 @ 50 lb
Biangular Lat Row: 15 @ 45 lb, 2 x 15 @ 60 lb
Hip Abduction: 3 x 15 @ 115 lb
Hip Adduction: 3 x 15 @ 55 lb
Shoulder Press: 3 x 15 @ 20 lb
Leg Curl: 15 @ 30 lb, 15 @ 40 lb, 15 @ 20 lb
Seated Leg Press: 15 @ 90 lb, 15 @ 110 lb, 15 @ 130 lb

Day 305 | August 19, 2010: 5 m run

This run started out hard… and never got easy.

Sweaty crotch alert!

I thought my run would be better if I went back to the trails (went to Nippersink Forest Preserve) and wore my Adrenaline 9s with inserts. I had been running on paved trails in my Adrenaline 10s for the past 4 runs.

No such luck. My legs were still bothering me, it was hotter (80s), and I felt like there were bugs all over me. I called the run short at 5 miles. Boo.

At least Steven was there to keep me company on his bike!

Distance: 5.0 | Time: 54:48 | Avg Pace: 10:57 | 1: 10:46 | 2: 10:58 | 3: 11:07 | 4: 11:09 | 5: 10:46

Day 306 | August 20, 2010: cross

Recumbent Bike Time: 40:00 | Distance: 5.55 | Average Speed: 8.3 mph | Set on “Forest Ride”

Day 307 | August 21, 2010: 16 m run

I was nervous about this 16-mile run, after my legs were bothering me so much on Thursday, but it went great! I felt good and strong, and didn’t want to die until mile 15. I remembered to go nice and slow and not start out too fast like I did the week before. I would have liked to have gone a bit faster, but hey, I would rather feel good than go fast!

I did my normal walk-a-minute every 3 miles, and ran on the Des Plaines River Trail. I listened to podcasts until the last 3.5 miles, and that kept me entertained (I was by myself!).

Fueling: I ate oatmeal (with flax and sugar) and a banana with strawberries before my run. During, I had some jelly beans at mile 6, and a GU that Kim (my blogging TWIN* – check out her blog!) sent me at mile 9. It was my first time trying a GU! After the run, I forced down some grapes and a small PB sandwich.

Hydration: I wore all four of my 8-ounce water bottles. I only used one in the first 5 miles, but I quickly drank all three before 10.5 (was returning to my car at 12). Wheels Go Round was sponsoring a bike ride and I passed their fuel table at 11, so I asked for some water and they gave me a whole, cold bottle. I drank it all before mile 12, and filled up all four bottles at the car again! I ran back to the table and gave Wheels Go Round a small $3 donation (the ride benefited the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center (LCCAC) and the Zacharias Center (Z-Center)). It was so nice of them to give me some of their water!

So… I drank at least 64 ounces of water plus whatever is in a water bottle! Is that a lot? How much water do you drink while running?

I liked having more water with me, but seriously, that belt weighed me down and made my butt hurt!

After: guess what I did?

My first ice bath! My legs felt pretty sore right after running. I stretched, but knew I needed to do an ice bath when I got home. It made my legs feel great!

Guess who kept me company?

Oh, Beyonce!**

P.S. Do you think I actually burned 2310 calories like the Garmin says? I mean, it knows my weight and birthday, and I had the heart rate monitor on…

*Same name, both runners, both have a cat and we started our blogs on the same day!
**Inside joke

Distance: 16.0 | Starting Temp: 72° | Ending Temp: 77° | Time: 3:08:30 | Avg Pace: 11:46 | Avg bpm: 173 | 1: 11:04 | 2: 11:34 | 3: 11:45 | 4: 11:51 | 5: 11:56 | 6: 11:39 | 7: 12:07 | 8: 11:29 | 9: 11:38 | 10: 12:01 | 11: 11:54 | 12: 11:13 | 13: 12:12 | 14: 11:52 | 15: 11:33 | 16: 12:33

Day 308 | August 22, 2010: yoga + cross

I did the YogaWorks Beginners AM/PM DVD first thing in the AM to stretch out my sore legs. It helped!

In the afternoon, Steven and I went to Van Patten Woods, a forest preserve we have never been to before, and is the trail head of the 31-mile Des Plaines River Trail!

We explored Van Patten Woods, which had a beautiful lake as well as some shaded paths (not all were shaded though),

and explored down to mile 4 of the Des Plaines River Trail. I would love to ride all 31 miles someday! (Hint, hint, Steven!)

P.S. I LOVE my new bike!!!

Bike Time: 1:27:50 | Distance: 13.58 | Average Speed: 9.3 mph

Week Summary: 27.00 miles

This week I was reminded of the emotional toll running takes on me. I felt great after an easy run on Tuesday, but crushed and worried on Thursday. After I completed 16 miles on Saturday with no pain I was on top of the world. But jeez, this emotional roller coaster is stressful! Does anyone else feel like their emotions are tied too directly to the perceived success of their runs?

I wish I would have fit in more yoga this week. I would really love to do the yoga DVD 2-3 times a week. I just feel so lazy when I get home. Ha!

Some links:

Ha ha, no matter what you think about the Vibram Five Fingers, the comments on this article about them are pretty funny.

I found this article in Runner’s World about last minute marathon (and other distances) training pretty encouraging: Training Tips for a Late Race Entry.

Comments (28)

By kilax, August 20, 2010 5:28 am

If someone was visiting your town for the first time, what local things would you make sure to show them/have them experience?

A bunch of bloggers were in Chicago last week for a conference, and seeing Chicago through their posts made me realize how special our city seems to visitors. It made me realize I am overlooking a few things on my daily trips in to the city. So, it made me wonder, what special things do you think people should see or do when they visit your city for the first time?

In Chicago:

• Visit the Bean/Millennium Park!



• Shop on Michigan Avenue
• Take the architectural boat tour
• Go to the top of the “Willis” (Sears) Tower or Hancock Building

In/Near Round Lake:

• Visit all the awesome Lake County Forest Preserves
• Go the AWESOME Mexican Bakery by our house



• Visit the Volo Auto Museum
• Go to El Famous Burrito and eat a burrito the size of a football

Of course, there are a ton of other fun things to do here… those are just some of our favorites!

The Reader’s Choice Giveaway winner is Cher, who chose the bowls! Cher, please email me your mailing address and I will send them your way.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Comments (20)

By kilax, August 19, 2010 9:14 pm

From here

I was reading an informative post on one of my favorite blogs* today and decided to read the comments to see what other people were adding to the conversation. I was surprised to see a commenter with the exact same name of a coworker of mine. That doesn’t seem odd, but this coworker has a very unique name, let’s say… Alexiou** (for story purposes).

I didn’t have time to go in to full detective mode, as I was about to turn my computer off and get off the train. However, I did have a chance to click on the Alexiou’s blog and see that the header was of the Chicago skyline, as well as email the (original) blogger to ask if they knew anything more about Alexiou.

The blogger responded that she didn’t, but I had a chance to look at Alexiou’s blog again after my run… it’s totally him – there’s a picture!

What are the odds that I would run across a coworker’s blog, while reading an internet friend’s blog (who is from New Jersey)?

So now the question is, do I invade Alexiou’s privacy and read his blog? Should I tell him that I found it when I don’t want people at work to know about my blog?

What would you do – would you read the blog and tell the coworker you found it? Read it in stealth mode? Not read it at all?

Steven actually asked me what I was going to do. He asked if I would care if a coworker searched me out on the internet. I told him that I put this blog out in the public, so if they want to, they can. That’s their right. If I wanted to make it private, I would.

So, I will probably check out Alexiou’s blog and see if I find it interesting. But I still don’t want to introduce my blog to my coworkers!

*I would link, but I do not want to lead to a search for unique names on that blog!
**This is not the actual name. In fact, this is my family name. Ilax is a derivative of the Greek last name Alexiou. My great grandpa Nicholas came here from Greece. When Christina was in NYC, she found his name at Ellis Island.