I tried to take a picture of us outside the house tonight while we were walking the dog, but he turned his head. I really like how this picture came out anyway...
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Daddy's Girl
I am SOOOO like my dad - and that rocks! We've had so much fun this week - turkey trotting, going to the gym, joking around, playing scrabble, playing with robots, making fun of people... We have exactly the same sense of humor - it's so cool! I certainly have traits from my mom too, but I have really seen so many aspects of myself in my dad during this trip.
I tried to take a picture of us outside the house tonight while we were walking the dog, but he turned his head. I really like how this picture came out anyway...
I tried to take a picture of us outside the house tonight while we were walking the dog, but he turned his head. I really like how this picture came out anyway...
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thankful
Happy Thanksgiving from Dallas, Texas!
This morning, Dad & I ran the YMCA Turkey Trot. Dad opted for 3 miles and I opted for 8 miles. It has been exactly 5 years since I ran this race. In 2003, I had just started running. I was only 3 months in to Austin Fit and never dreamed I'd be able to run a race not doing the run/walk method.
In 2003, it took me 1:25:40 to finish 8 miles. That's 10:42/mile. It was painful. It was horrible. It was also incredibly rewarding, as I knew it was just the start of things to come. My coach Jeff & I ran together... here we are!
Fast forward to 2008. I had no expectations about this race other than it being a supported training run, and surely I could beat 10:42/mile. Armed with some new shoes and a carefree attitude, I am pleased to say I knocked out this race in 1:06:01. That's 8:15/mile. Nearly 2:30/mile faster than 2003 and 20 minutes overall. In the process, I set a new 10K PR - 51:16. Considering my previous PR is 59:28... um, yeah. It wasn't like I was trying to race a 10K either, I was merely trying to pace myself - for once - so I wouldn't blow up at the end - like I always seem to - and maybe have a positive race experience - which was much needed - and get over being so hard on myself about running - etc...
Perhaps I should shut up and just be thankful for running. I'm such a freaking headcase about it, but in the end - I'm so much better than I was when I started. (Really, 5 years ago I could not run one mile.) Now, I actually enjoy it. Most importantly, I'm going to be able to finish that damn marathon at IMCdA!!!
After Thanksgiving dinner (french toast & migas - I love my parents!) I finished the day with a 20 mile bike ride down to White Rock Lake and back. I'm a slowpoke on my bike, thanks to ignoring it for the past month, but today I was just thankful to be out on the trail, enjoy the fall afternoon, and reflect on my life over the past year.
What did I realize? Life is pretty damn good. Everything seems to be coming together just fine, honestly. (Much of it in the past week or so, but I will take it gladly!!!!) I have so much to be thankful for.
This morning, Dad & I ran the YMCA Turkey Trot. Dad opted for 3 miles and I opted for 8 miles. It has been exactly 5 years since I ran this race. In 2003, I had just started running. I was only 3 months in to Austin Fit and never dreamed I'd be able to run a race not doing the run/walk method.
In 2003, it took me 1:25:40 to finish 8 miles. That's 10:42/mile. It was painful. It was horrible. It was also incredibly rewarding, as I knew it was just the start of things to come. My coach Jeff & I ran together... here we are!
Fast forward to 2008. I had no expectations about this race other than it being a supported training run, and surely I could beat 10:42/mile. Armed with some new shoes and a carefree attitude, I am pleased to say I knocked out this race in 1:06:01. That's 8:15/mile. Nearly 2:30/mile faster than 2003 and 20 minutes overall. In the process, I set a new 10K PR - 51:16. Considering my previous PR is 59:28... um, yeah. It wasn't like I was trying to race a 10K either, I was merely trying to pace myself - for once - so I wouldn't blow up at the end - like I always seem to - and maybe have a positive race experience - which was much needed - and get over being so hard on myself about running - etc...
Perhaps I should shut up and just be thankful for running. I'm such a freaking headcase about it, but in the end - I'm so much better than I was when I started. (Really, 5 years ago I could not run one mile.) Now, I actually enjoy it. Most importantly, I'm going to be able to finish that damn marathon at IMCdA!!!
After Thanksgiving dinner (french toast & migas - I love my parents!) I finished the day with a 20 mile bike ride down to White Rock Lake and back. I'm a slowpoke on my bike, thanks to ignoring it for the past month, but today I was just thankful to be out on the trail, enjoy the fall afternoon, and reflect on my life over the past year.
What did I realize? Life is pretty damn good. Everything seems to be coming together just fine, honestly. (Much of it in the past week or so, but I will take it gladly!!!!) I have so much to be thankful for.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Bad Influences!
For the record, I gave up eating icecream in June 2007. Since then I have had nothing... not one bite. It's a good thing, too, because this is what my parent's freezer looks like. You can't even make this stuff up!! (yes, that makes 14 visible containers of icecream in this pic. notice, I said "visible.")
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Brave...
Pain nourishes courage. You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you.
-Mary Tyler Moore
-Mary Tyler Moore
Monday, November 24, 2008
Back in Austin...
Turns out a quick trip to Arizona was the perfect way to shake some bad karma. I wanted to surprise some friends who were racing Ironman on Sunday, as well as get some inspiration for IMCDA, and thanks to cheap plane tickets and free board with an old friend, the trip cost me basically nothing.
Long story short... great trip. I really enjoyed seeing my friends on the course, I got tons of quality time with Mer, and I was so glad to return the favor of playing sherpa. The Ironman is definitely an experience - at one point it was me and 2200 athletes in wet suits and swim caps. (That's what I got for sneaking into places I shouldn't have been.) However, I was not nearly as inspired as I'd hoped I'd be - though happy for my friends and team, I still don't have much, if any, desire to do an Ironman. Hopefully that changes, but for now I'm enjoying some off time. I guess I do have about 7 months to get my head in the game, so I'm not going to stress!
Lastly, I want to say that the past few weeks have been difficult ones for me. I've been retreating and hiding and going "off the grid." It's nothing personal, but it's what I've needed to do to stay sane. (If I could even call it that!) I'm so happy to report that I'm coming out the other side way better than I thought possible.
Long story short... great trip. I really enjoyed seeing my friends on the course, I got tons of quality time with Mer, and I was so glad to return the favor of playing sherpa. The Ironman is definitely an experience - at one point it was me and 2200 athletes in wet suits and swim caps. (That's what I got for sneaking into places I shouldn't have been.) However, I was not nearly as inspired as I'd hoped I'd be - though happy for my friends and team, I still don't have much, if any, desire to do an Ironman. Hopefully that changes, but for now I'm enjoying some off time. I guess I do have about 7 months to get my head in the game, so I'm not going to stress!
Lastly, I want to say that the past few weeks have been difficult ones for me. I've been retreating and hiding and going "off the grid." It's nothing personal, but it's what I've needed to do to stay sane. (If I could even call it that!) I'm so happy to report that I'm coming out the other side way better than I thought possible.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Being Tested...
I have this feeling that I am being tested... I usually consider myself a pretty good Karma type of girl, but lately it's one thing after the next.
Here are some of the fun parts of this past week:
So tonight, I decided to tidy some things up and spend time getting my house in order. I spent 2 hours building a coffee table only to turn it over and find a huge, unrepairable dent in the middle. Okay, that can be fixed - return to IKEA! Whatever, 2 hours lost, it's fine. Then... I managed to drop my phone in a big container of liquid. (I'll spare the details... let's just say that it does not work anymore, nor do I want it anywhere near my face even if it did.) Seriously. What is going on?
I'm looking for the positives. Looking really really really really really hard. My IT manager got my computer to work again. Phew. I worked everything out with the car insurance company, and now I am driving a really cool Jeep until my car is repaired. Somehow, the officer who pulled me over took pity on me and did not write me a ticket, even though he originally said it was a no-tolerance school zone policy. My house is much cleaner than it was last weekend. Oh, and the best part - I have had support from people that has gotten me through so much $#}& lately - and I am extremely lucky for them. Really, no clue where I'd be without them.
So... long story short... I'm trying to deal with being tested. In the grand scheme of life, these are all small & insignificant things. But for now, they are really testing my patience! By the way... I have no phone and I'm off the grid until I can fix it - and for reasons I'll explain later, that may be a while.
Reframe... reframe... sigh... reframe...
Here are some of the fun parts of this past week:
- getting sandwiched on I35
- getting pulled over for speeding in a school zone. (10 minutes after the wreck)
- not having enough hot water in my house to get through a shower (bath, technically)
- getting told i don't have rental car insurance, which would mean i have no way to go home for Thanksgiving
- my laptop is corrupted and won't start
So tonight, I decided to tidy some things up and spend time getting my house in order. I spent 2 hours building a coffee table only to turn it over and find a huge, unrepairable dent in the middle. Okay, that can be fixed - return to IKEA! Whatever, 2 hours lost, it's fine. Then... I managed to drop my phone in a big container of liquid. (I'll spare the details... let's just say that it does not work anymore, nor do I want it anywhere near my face even if it did.) Seriously. What is going on?
I'm looking for the positives. Looking really really really really really hard. My IT manager got my computer to work again. Phew. I worked everything out with the car insurance company, and now I am driving a really cool Jeep until my car is repaired. Somehow, the officer who pulled me over took pity on me and did not write me a ticket, even though he originally said it was a no-tolerance school zone policy. My house is much cleaner than it was last weekend. Oh, and the best part - I have had support from people that has gotten me through so much $#}& lately - and I am extremely lucky for them. Really, no clue where I'd be without them.
So... long story short... I'm trying to deal with being tested. In the grand scheme of life, these are all small & insignificant things. But for now, they are really testing my patience! By the way... I have no phone and I'm off the grid until I can fix it - and for reasons I'll explain later, that may be a while.
Reframe... reframe... sigh... reframe...
Magritte! Art! Yay!!!!!
Gotta love Google... it reminded me that it's Rene Magritte's birthday!! I love Magritte... he is one of my most favorite artists... ever! Kandinsky certainly gives him a run for his money... Anyway, I love what Google did today:
Here are some of my favorite Magritte paintings.
By the way, this scene in Thomas Crown Affair has to be one of my favorite movie scenes ever. It gives me chills and makes me smile every time I see it. (Nina Simone, who is singing Sinner Man, was the perfect music choice.)
Yay Magritte!!!
Here are some of my favorite Magritte paintings.
By the way, this scene in Thomas Crown Affair has to be one of my favorite movie scenes ever. It gives me chills and makes me smile every time I see it. (Nina Simone, who is singing Sinner Man, was the perfect music choice.)
Yay Magritte!!!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Today
A picture is worth a thousand words!
*Edit* I guess I should explain. I am exhausted. There is not a caffeine drip strong enough today! I'm not complaining, though! I just need to get PM Dawn and Snoop Dogg out of my head. :)
*Edit* I guess I should explain. I am exhausted. There is not a caffeine drip strong enough today! I'm not complaining, though! I just need to get PM Dawn and Snoop Dogg out of my head. :)
Monday, November 10, 2008
Off season!
I love my couch. Love, love, love it...
Which is good, because I will be spending a lot of time on it. In other words, I have accepted my "off season." No serious training. No forcing myself to go spin or swim or go to the gym. No forcing myself to run, even... though I plan to stay on top of the little program I've set up for myself.
Granted, this morning I got up to run, got dressed, stepped out the door, made it about three houses down, and came right back home and went to work instead. (At 6:30am, I must be mad!) Which was fine... I thought about running tonight instead, but my couch is just too comfortable. One day Jess is going to teach me how to cook, but until then... I'm thinking kashi, some hot tea and my crossword puzzle. That is how I will enjoy my off season tonight. :)
I got to see my old IronChick girls today... the ones that I trained with for my very first triathlon. Who would have though that I would have been the first to take the Ironman plunge. Wow. It was great to see them. Love those girls. :)
Anyway... off season... Fun! (Feel free to hold me to this... I know I will need some help! But I have a long long LOOOONNNNGGGGG road ahead until IM CdA!) CdA. What a weekend that will be....
Which is good, because I will be spending a lot of time on it. In other words, I have accepted my "off season." No serious training. No forcing myself to go spin or swim or go to the gym. No forcing myself to run, even... though I plan to stay on top of the little program I've set up for myself.
Granted, this morning I got up to run, got dressed, stepped out the door, made it about three houses down, and came right back home and went to work instead. (At 6:30am, I must be mad!) Which was fine... I thought about running tonight instead, but my couch is just too comfortable. One day Jess is going to teach me how to cook, but until then... I'm thinking kashi, some hot tea and my crossword puzzle. That is how I will enjoy my off season tonight. :)
I got to see my old IronChick girls today... the ones that I trained with for my very first triathlon. Who would have though that I would have been the first to take the Ironman plunge. Wow. It was great to see them. Love those girls. :)
Anyway... off season... Fun! (Feel free to hold me to this... I know I will need some help! But I have a long long LOOOONNNNGGGGG road ahead until IM CdA!) CdA. What a weekend that will be....
Friday, November 07, 2008
Blah-some
I love to use the Garfield minus Garfield comics to illustrate my life. Here goes.
This week has been a tug between this:
and this:
and back. I'm so tired.
This weekend I am really hoping for some fun time. I'm thinking watching Happy Go Lucky with my girls tonight will be just what I need to start the weekend off right.
By the way, blah-some, or blawesome, is a word I invented to represent the tug between feeling blah and feeling awesome. Good stuff right there!
This week has been a tug between this:
and this:
and back. I'm so tired.This weekend I am really hoping for some fun time. I'm thinking watching Happy Go Lucky with my girls tonight will be just what I need to start the weekend off right.
By the way, blah-some, or blawesome, is a word I invented to represent the tug between feeling blah and feeling awesome. Good stuff right there!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
The Next President?!
Ummm.... I was just recalling how D & I quite literally ran into this guy on the trail back in February. Wow.
Then we went to his rally... VIP treatment mind you... wow.
Then we went to his rally... VIP treatment mind you... wow.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
glued to my laptop....
I pride myself on being an outdoorsy person - not one to stay inside and watch tv or play online on a beautiful Saturday.
However... I am absolutely glued to my laptop watching Ironman Florida. Every time a press refresh to look for my friends' times, I get so nervous and excited. I can't wait to watch them cross the finish line!!!
(I'm at least leaving my front door open so I get some sense of the outdoors. I am now playing house for 2 bumblebees, some flies, a pesky mosquito. Oh well! Back to Ironman!!!)
However... I am absolutely glued to my laptop watching Ironman Florida. Every time a press refresh to look for my friends' times, I get so nervous and excited. I can't wait to watch them cross the finish line!!!
(I'm at least leaving my front door open so I get some sense of the outdoors. I am now playing house for 2 bumblebees, some flies, a pesky mosquito. Oh well! Back to Ironman!!!)
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