Triathlon... FINISHER

I did it.. :) (well I did it two months ago, but just getting to the post..) it may not have been as pretty as I would have liked.. but I did it... I have to be honest, I was out of sorts with the swim, but loved the bike ride, and then took a whole mile of the run before my feet did not feel like they were stuck in cement..



My goal was 2 hours, and I came in way under that.. but learned a few valuable lessons..
1. your transition times can kill you.
2. no kids in the transition area. slows you down.
3. do not get in swim lane with crazy man who cannot swim straight.
3b. oh, and practice circle swimming.. lots.
4. it does matter what kind of bike you have.. i ended up using Kyle's because he was sick and what a difference.. his bike rocked!!
5. I need to figure out the the trick to making your legs work when you start the run. :)
Yep, i am planning to do it again next year... :)

my cheerleaders.. :)

Farewell Oprah

So, I will admit that this year I did record Oprah's farewell Season.. now, many of the days I did not watch, or only watched parts. (I love DVRs.. fast forward, rewind, delete...)...

And, as the time drew near for the big finale, I was excited to see what would happen. Now, the final three days were interesting... and the two "shows" leading up to the last show were certainly a party filled with Who's who in Oprah's life.... but then the final show... what did you think? Oprah's Love Letter to Us? I actually liked it. I liked the simplicity. I liked that it was just her. Ok,it seems silly to write about it, but there were a few points that really made me stop and think... or reaffirmed what I have felt and said all my life.

One of the main points that I focused on was that we need to find our purpose in life and get busy doing it. This is so true.... Now, not all of us will be blessed to do get paid for our passion or purpose, but we all have a choice to still pursue it. If everyone did this to some degree, we would all be a much more content, productive and passionate people...

Worthiness. Another topic that she mentioned that I found interesting given my background and my counseling degree was the concept that much of hurt and anger comes from a feeling of unworthiness. I do think that there are a lot of people out there who do not know their worth, who do not feel special, loved, or needed. They may not even know it. When someone is hurting, and you get to the root of the problem, it likely is because whatever happened resulted in them not feeling of worth. Wow. Now, how to address this as a society so folks can get on with living and spend less time doing self destructive behaviors...

God. It was the first time I had ever really heard Oprah talk so openly about God and it was very touching. God has a hand in all we do, and the sooner we recognize this, and allow Him to guide us, protect us, and love us... the sooner we can help Him by guiding, protecting and loving others. What a different world we would live in if all of us truly felt the love of God and His love for us....

Hmmm... For some reason, I have been thinking a lot about these things and thought that perhaps by writing down the thoughts I can begin using them to help strengthen me.

new toys..

I recently got a new lens for my camera.. and want to play with it, but my subjects have not been cooperative and life has gotten very hectic.. a few times I have been able to enjoy...

but soon, my friend. very soon.

A competitive mini me...

Allie ran in her first race this weekend, and all she could talk about was how many kids she passed. I tried explaining to her that it is just for the fun of running and as long as you do your best and have a good time, it doesn't matter who wins... well, she nods, but then talks again about her coming in 2nd. :)

Hmm... wonder where she gets her competitive spirit?? Though, when it comes to running.. that is so not me..

Barbie....

As with all girls, Allie and Shannon are becoming interested in Barbie, but I have been doing everything I can to delay this interest. I have been telling Allie for over a year, that she cannot rent a barbie movie, because it is for 5 year olds....well, now that doesn't work anymore.. and in the stores, I keep telling her she doesn't really want a barbie...

then recently we were away for a weekend, and a friend's daughter brought along her barbie princesses (you now, belle, ariel, Cinderella..) And Shannon AND Allie spent many hours playing with them....

So, this week I broke down and bought them one... and then I had a realization that made me a bit sad. I remember hours and hours of fun playing with barbies... I even remember still playing with them in 6th grade. My best girlfriend and I talked about how we still had fun playing with barbies, even if the other 6th graders didnt... so, we did... (though, i don't think we told anyone else...).

Anyway, my dislike for Barbie did not come to be until I was adult responding to all the media and social pressures against barbie for her "perfect" and not so realistic figure.... and all else that she represented. I mean, when I was little, I did not care that she always walked on her toes or what that would really do to her calf... or what her actual bust and waist size was in comparison to her inseam. I mean, I did not care at all. I just dressed her and played... all in good fun.

So, instead of giving my girls those same memories, I have been avoiding it due to outside pressures that do not really exist for Allie and Shannon (at least not yet). So, girls.. enjoy them.. play with them... have tons of fun.... and don't worry, there are more barbies in your near future (Easter basket is just around the corner...)....

Baking Bread

Don't you just love fresh bread?? the smell? the taste?? And so easy...

I am that person...

Ok, so the coupon craze is all over the media.. there is a show on TLC about some crazy couponers, etc. Now, I have begun couponing after a presentation at a moms group, and have found it fun. I am not trying super hard, in that I have not ventured into stores I do not normally frequent (rite aid, etc). However, shopping at mostly Safeway and Albertsons, armed with my new found knowledge and patience (and a folder of coupons), we have cut our grocery bill by 30%. Nice.

OK, now this week, I may have crossed the line... Darn safeway coupons. This week there is a lot of stuff on sale, including cereal, frozen veggies and fruit snacks. (NOTE: I am not a huge fan of fruit snacks, preferring the whole fruit fruit leather at Costco, but for a special treat....) Anyway, back to the point... I have found myself making multiple trips to Safeway each day, in order to stock up... and when I say multiple, I am almost embarrassed to say I mean 6!!! ok, six in one day... that meant 16 bags of veggies, 10 boxes of simply fruit rolls, and 8 boxes of cereal. Then, of course, the next day.. I went back!!!!

All in all, I have spent under $20... and have a stocked pantry in fruit snacks and cereal... and frozen veggies.