Watch Out It’s Messy In Here

“Today, is the end of a very long chapter, and the beginning of a very beautiful chapter for me,” Those words were spoken by Elizabeth Smart after her kidnapper was sentenced to life in prison.  That scared little girl who was kidnapped at 14 has grown into a beautiful, strong woman.  She spoke without a quiver in her voice, she didn't read from notes, she spoke from her heart.  Elizabeth Smart had something horrific happen to her in the past, but she is not letting it ruin her future.  Watching this incredible girl speak on the news this morning made me realize that if she can overcome the horrors she had to endure, anyone can.  My sister was in an abusive relationship for many years.  We never knew how bad it was.  The emotional and verbal abuse was evident, but the physical abuse was well hidden.  One day she had enough, and walked away.  He didn't let her go easily, and still has a hold on her via their children, but he can never agai...

My training buddy Erin and I set out for an hour ride from my house last night. She was not in the mood for real hilly, so I did my best to avoid the big ones (and in my neck of the woods, we have big hills aplenty). We were on some main roads, and it was raining off and on, so we kept our speed on the cautious side. But at some point, if we wanted to get back to my house, there was going to have to be a hill. Unfortunately, the hill was shortly after an intersection, and I completely lost my momentum, and my energy, and had to walk up the hill. I've done this hill in the past, it's not that bad, but it must have just been the perfect storm of wet, tired, and under fueled that stopped me from making it this time. Erin had no idea where we were most of the time, so she was behind me, getting the spray from my tires in her face. She also had the pleasure of getting to stare at my hot pink underwear that was clear as day through my black compression shorts. I guess it's...

Not going to do a 70.3 this year Not going to do 140.6 next year Not going to run a marathon this year. It's mostly financial of course.  Not having the Y membership means not having a place to do swim workouts.  I can't swim a mile with no training.  Add to that the cost of registering for the races.  And to get into LP, you gotta volunteer so you can sign up the day after.  It just ain't gonna happen with no sponsors or sugar daddy.  So, we will keep all three of those things on my bucket list.  Someday I will be able to cross them off. 

When ever my mom is sore from a work out, she calls the pain her souvenir.  So when I mention that my legs hurt, or my calves are tight, she always says, you have lots of souvenirs.  Today's souvenirs are blisters on both thumbs from planting a memorial perennial garden over my cat's grave.  Yesterday's souvenir was a sore butt from from riding the bike course for the tri I'm doing in three weeks.  On Mother's Day I had more souvenirs than I could count from the boot camp class I did.  The reason she refers to them as souvenirs is because they are reminders of your work out.  Some of my souvenirs that I am most proud of how I earned them, yet also most embarrassed by are the ones that remind me of 18 of the best months of my life.  They are the silvery lines that cover my stomach and sides.  The stretch marks I earned by growing my both of my boys inside of me.  Because of these souvenirs I never wear anything that allows my abdomen to show...

Since I still feel like a tri newbie, and I have so many experienced and pro tri friends, I've decided to make a a little survey/quiz to find out how the experts do things. Time of day do you most often do your workouts?  Why? What do you wear on race day? What do you eat on race day? Sleeveless or full wetsuit? Where do you come up with your training plans? What do you do when weather "interrupts" your planned work out? Do you train in the same shoes you race in? Do you really pee on your bike?   Besides swim, bike, run, what other exercise do you find most useful for your training? If you could give just one piece of advice to a tri newbie, what would it be?  Just a few simple questions, but I hope to get some pointers from my rock star tri buddies!

My first triathlon of the season is four weeks from today.  I'm pretty sure I am going to bonk, hard core, but I will finish the race on my own two feet.  This training as a single mom is a little harder than I thought.  Especially with both boys having activities that take up time.  I'm hoping to get on the bike  course at least once prior to the race.  Was supposed to ride today, but my training partner got scared off by the rain.  I still love her any way.  Came to the realization this afternoon that Green Lakes tri takes place on what will most likely be day two of my cycle.  This is not a good thing.  Really hope I'm late this cycle, so that I don't have to worry about it.  I know you don't need to know this, but it's kind of freaking me out.   One thing I had hoped to avoid until I don't feel like a newbie triathlete anymore.   Sometimes men don't know how easy they have it!   Really would still appreciat...

I did not write my last blog post looking for handouts.  I was just venting about the system.  That's all I wanted to do.  I actually took my entire blog down, and deleted all of my Facebook posts about the situation because of the responses.  Not bad responses.  I was being inundated with offers of help.  I turned down all of the ones that were offered, but there were some that just literally showed up at my door.  I would like to thank each and every one of you who offered assistance and for those who gave help.  I am truly blessed to be surrounded by friends and family who are so caring and generous.  I can only hope that I am able to pay it forward in the future. Thank You!

After all was said and done, and I paid my bills, I had no money left over for groceries this week.  I have cereal, milk, and a few odds and ends, but no dinners.  Our Mother's Day dinner consisted of pancakes, cereal and the last of the cantaloupe from last weeks shop.  Luckily the boys school lunch accounts was filled up by their father  on Friday, so they are set for lunch.   Mondays and Wednesday's they go to their dad's, so I don't have to worry about those nights.  Tuesday is a baseball night, so cereal will do since we have to eat fast to get to the field, they won't question it.  But by Thursday, The Big One will be sick of having nothing to snack on after school, and cereal will probably not pass as dinner for a third night.  My plan was to hit up the food bank yesterday.  Since gas consumption is a concern, I looked online and found the one closest to my work that was open on Mondays.  Called ahead to find out what I need...

Gas is currently 4.05, or 4.09, or 4.12 a gallon where I live.  Who knows it may be even higher today. We were without internet, cable, or phone for over a week, because I couldn't pay the bill. I have $40 after the bills were paid today to cover my gas and groceries for a week. My student loan is garnished from my paycheck because I defaulted while home being a mommy to Spencer for the first year of his life.  They get $100/week from me.  The only way to stop that is to pay an extra $120/month out of my own pocket for 9 consecutive months. My oldest son will be graduating from high school in 3 years.  He's gonna want to go to college.  I'm gonna want to help him out with that. Once my divorce is final, and I am on my work's health insurance, my paycheck will be even smaller every week.  And the insurance doesn't cover much. I owe thousands of dollars from my little "retreat" I went on for 5 days back in January that isn't covered by our cu...

Temporarily w/out internet. Be back soon.....