Green!

My last accomplishment of 2008... the walls are painted, art is hung, and my nest is ready. I love it!

So, I'm ending the year on a positive. Last year at this time, everything was completely up in the air for me. For 2009, I *think* I have a better grasp of what's in store. It'll be fun to look back at this post in a year to see how far things have come.
Thanks for following along this year... it's been a journey, for sure! And with that... from my freshly painted green room... Happy New Year, people. Come on 2009!

Counting Down...

I only have 5 more days of gluttony, whining, sloth, malaise, etc...

T3's Ironman CdA kickoff meeting is Sunday morning. That means our official training starts Monday. I have seriously forgotten what it takes to be dedicated to something like this.

In review of the past 3 months, what have I accomplished?

• Avoid nearly all T3 workouts since beginning of November? Check!
• Able to count the times I've ridden my bike on one hand? Check!
• Injure myself by trying to run too much, and then not be able to run for a month? Check!
• Eat my weight in peanut butter? Check!
• Outgrow all my workout clothes to the point where I need a "fit" pile and my current "out of shape" pile. Check!
  
• Whine, bitch, and complain about signing up for Ironman? Check!

Anyway... in light of all of these glorious accomplishments, I knew the end of my freedom was approaching, so I have taken some steps to prepare myself, including:

• Travel to Arizona to watch a live Ironman so I can see what my future holds.
• Finish getting my house in order so I don't have too many projects once training starts. (This includes: getting a washer & dryer, finish all the painting, hang up all artwork and robot displays, buy any outstanding items like a TV and a coffee table.)
• Plan a nutrition strategy! I just bought a beautiful Foreman 360 so I can make healthy food quickly. Jess is teaching me how to cook. I'm loaded up on vitamins. And... I'm eating meat again. I'm hoping all of this, combined with returning to Mer's eating plan, will do me good!
• Bought new workout clothes. I am pretty stocked up for now. I cannot use "dirty clothes" or "not the right equipment" as an excuse to skip a workout.
• Utilize a free 30-day membership at 24 hour fitness so I could spend about 30 minutes in the pool for the past few weeks to remember what water feels like.
• Two massages down, one per month to come...
  
• Started attending T3 workouts again. Swim on Sunday & Monday... Spin tonight...Core tomorrow... it's all coming back to me...
  

As much as I've been negative lately, I will say that I am very much looking forward to training again. I've been an emotional rollercoaster for the past few months.I need to regain some control in my life, reconnect with my friends and get myself healthy.

The plan is in place. It's time to open my eyes, stop freaking out, and enjoy the ride.

June 21, 2009 will be quite the day. 2009 will be quite the year. Just wait and see.

best recovery drink ever!

In keeping with my cooking theme... here is what I've been making recently as a recovery drink. (Er.... when I actually work out. Yeah.) It's nearly the perfect 4:1 carb to protein ratio, and it's full of bananas, coffee & chocolate milk. Blend everything together & enjoy... YUM!

BANANA MOCHA BLEND

1 medium banana

3/4 cup low-fat milk (1%)

4 tsp artificial sweetener (such as Equal or Splenda)

1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp instant coffee granules

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

5 ice cubes (4 - 6)

More info here on Calorie King.

Jess Rocks!

Meet Jess. She is a badass.
Besides being smart, funny, an awesome athlete, and many many other things.... she is teaching me how to cook! I'm not exactly sure how I got to be the lucky one who benefits from Jess's skills in the kitchen (except perhaps that I asked for help) - but I am loving it!!

Today was our second "lesson." Last time, she perused my kitchen and looked through all the recipes I have pulled over the past few years - recipes that remain unmade, by the way. Today, we went to the grocery store and then made lentil soup. We made enough so I can freeze a bunch and have healthy meals ready to go when I need them. It is so yummy. She also gave me a soup pot and this awesome recipe book she made, complete with plastic inserts and divider tabs. It is so cool!
Thank you so much, Jess!!!

Fever

From "Fever" by Garth Brooks. It's about bull riding, and it's about life.

He says it's really kind of simple
Keep your mind in the middle
While your butt spins 'round and 'round

Yup.

Cha..cha...cha...cha...CHANGES!

I'm thinking it's time to return to blogging. I've been taking a bit of hiatus because I felt like I had very few positive things to write about. Wrong!

There are lots of changes in my world. I was thinking this morning that I am returning to age 15. Strange thing to say, but here's why:

First: I AM NO LONGER A VEGETARIAN!
I had not eaten meat - and by meat, I mean nothing that had a face - for over 12 years. TWELVE YEARS. I've been contemplating giving up my veggie ways all year, but could never find the guts to do it. Ultimately, it came down to the question of "why AM I vegetarian, anyway?" Turns out, it was more because it's how I've been for years - i.e. it is my identity - rather than not actually liking meat. It's hard to let go of something you've held on to for 12 years, you know?

Plus, with ironman training coming, eating meat seems like a smart thing to do. So, at a recent happy hour at Union Park, I took the plunge! (Perhaps I should more accurately say someone shoved shrimp tempura in my face.) Man, it was yummy. What have I been missing all these years? :) Anyway, I'm now eating chicken and fish. I can't stomach the idea of a four legged animal yet... but in time...

Second: I BOUGHT MY FIRST TV!!
I'm not kidding. I've never bought my own television before. I had one growing up, thanks to Mom & Dad. I really don't like tv at all, and I haven't missed having one over the past year. But, I will be watching a lot of movies over the next few days - and I figured having something to watch them on would be helpful. (This reminds me of when I was 15 - it took me years to get my first CD player, and I only ended up buying one because the soundtrack I wanted didn't come in a tape.)

I am now the owner of a 32" flat screen. It is sitting all nice and pretty in my loft, just waiting for me to curl up and relax in front of it. For the record, I will not be buying cable. That would be too much.

Third: I am playing piano again!
I finally moved my piano in last month, and it's been so much fun trying to play again. I really need to get it tuned - but until then, that serves as a good excuse for why it sounds so awful! I feel slightly bad for my neighbors, because sometimes I play at 5:30 in the morning when I don't want to go work out. Hopefully the screeching sound doesn't carry...

So, anyway, it has not been since I was 15 that all of these things have come together. I must say I'm excited about all three - they are like three new worlds opening up to me. Good stuff. :)

Best Advice Ever... Let Us Be Lovely

Twelve Days of Christmas

I can't help but smile when watching this!! (I especially love the dreidel part!)

Melvin

In lieu of recent events, I've (temporarily) adopted the neighborhood cat.

I was thinking that this cat adopted me. I thought he liked me. However... evidence revealed today leads me to believe that I am wrong. Turns out he likes Kris, who apparently fed him while I was away. Thanks, Kris - I have a cat now! ;)

I originally called him Sushi, the neighbors call him Stinkbug, but Jess coined him Melvin and I think it fits just right. We'll see how long this lasts...

In other news, yes - I do wear my coat inside while I am working. I'm always cold. And no, my nose did not fit into this picture. It is really big. OYE.

Erin

I can't stop thinking about Erin. She was so beautiful, funny, charming, energetic, sweet... One of those people with boundless energy and always a smile on her face. If you didn't know her, but followed her blog (linked right), you could sense all of this through her writing.

I'd only known her for half a year. We met at T3 swim clinic and instantly bonded over being the "Erin's." We swam side by side each other, supported each other and cheered for each other. I got to know her better when she joined full T3 training and we'd spin together or hang out at happy hour.

Erin started the Dallas Marathon yesterday full of hope and excitement - her mind set on qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Unfortunately, she didn't finish.

I'm still in shock. I can't stop thinking about her or her husband. Life can be so great and yet so cruel. I just don't know what to say.

Hibernation

Okay, so it took a little longer than I meant it to. I go into hibernation from time to time. I've done this my whole life. Slowly, slowly... I'm coming back out into the world.

A few things I've learned and/or reconfirmed lately... I hate being injured. Not being able to work out has sucked. I am addicted to endorphins. Period.

I can't save everyone. Actually, to be more precise - I can't save anyone. And I can't make anyone happy, either. I can only augment other people's happiness. In the end, people have to save themselves.

People really do love me. Loving myself is often not easy, but with people in my life who love me - it's so much easier. For those of you who tried to get me to crawl out of my cave, or just swung by to make sure I was still alive in there, thank you. For those who came and snuck in there with me, thank you too.

I probably sound like a drama queen. But it's my blog and I'll be a drama queen if I want to. At any rate... I'm reemerging feeling very happy and very positive, and I am so excited about the next year. I'm even more excited about right now.

bulletproof

what doesn't break us will only make us stronger.