anyone up for a run to the liquor store?

Most of you have driven down rt. 175 in Jessup, right? And you've seen Mel's liquors, right? I just read this on How Chow.

I think I may need to take a trip to the liquor store.

Everything's not always horeshoes and donuts, ya know.

Sometimes the tigers eat cat food, and then you have to clean it up. The worst thing is when monkeys and elephants take their avocados to bed with them and the avocados don't sound like jelly beans when they chair.

That's what Kelly sounded like last night. I hope she gets help. Soon.

BGW-11

I want to go and have BGW-2011 with my Aunt Becky . Who else is in?

hanging up the towel

there are lots of things i do everyday because i have to. i get out of bed in the morning to fix my kids breakfast. i wash dishes and clean the house everyday. i go to the grocery store and run errands. these are things that i have to do because i have an obligation to my family to take care of these things that need to be taken care of.

there are also lots of things i do because i love to do them. i knit everyday because it relaxes me. i snuggle with vivian because she is the best hugger in the world. i go to the gym to workout because it makes me feel strong and healthy and fabulous.

but today while i was swimming at the gym, i realized that i don't love swimming. i don't even really like it. i suck at swimming. don't get me wrong, i can do things i suck at. i don't have to be great at something in order to enjoy it. i enjoy the process of improving myself, especially when it's something i like to do. swimming is not it.

swimming is boring. you can't talk to anyone. you just swim back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. inhale, blow bubbles on the exhale, inhale, blow bubbles on the exhale, inhale, don't choke before you come back up gasping for air.

so, i decided that maybe the triathlon thing isn't for me. even now as i'm typing this, i'm trying to figure out how to be able compete, because i really did enjoy it. maybe i'd love swimming if i had someone to swim with. (not that we'd be able to talk)

what do y'all think? anyone want to come swim with me? (and kick my ass)

child safety 101

don't blame me. blame mel. he is the one who showed it to me. it's like a train wreck. only worse.

Safety Tips for Kids!

Let's Go Team Tex, Let's - Go! (clap clap)

I'm going to do it. I'm organizing a triathlon club. scary


First it was a knitting club, now a triathlon club. What's next?

BTW, Knit Click is on 5/10 at 1PM

I'm not really a triathlete..

...but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. (really, I did stay at one)


Here's the quick and dirty:

The swim sucked. No, sucked is an understatement. I sucked, coughed, sputtered, inhaled, swallowed, choked, and drank a good amount of Lake Anna. It's not that I wanted to quit, because quitting never was an option I gave myself, I truly thought I wouldn't be able to finish. I pretty much did the whole thing on my back. The swim was one of the most difficult things I've ever done. It is a totally different experience swimming in a lake than a pool, and I learned that the hard way. (30:43/750M/166th)

T1 was fine! I was glad to get the wetsuit off and put on shoes. I was beyond exhausted, but I think 2:17 was decent for my first transition.

I already planned for the bike ride to be a recovery. For the first couple of miles, I caught my breath, re focused my mind, and hydrated. I really enjoyed the bike ride. It was like an easy version of what Mel and I did the week before on our 13 mile ride around Crownsville. I played leapfrog with two other guys, and when we all finished our bike ride, we discovered that we were 'neighbors' in the transition area. (51:13/12 mi./138th)

T2, I got a minor calf cramp when I took off my biking shoes. It took me almost two minutes to change shoes though. That's kinda a long time. But whatever!

I ran with/paced Jason, one of my 'biking buddies' for the better part of the run. This run consisted of two things that I hate: grass and trails. So, by the time I got out of the trail, my legs had loosened up a bit, and off I went! I guess I had a decent pace. On a good day, I run about a 8:20-8:40 mile. My normal 5K time is under 26 minutes. My goal was to finish it in under 30 minutes. So was Jason's. I think I helped him get through the first half of the run. About halfway into the second half, I lost my concentration, and slowed way down because of the hill. The dude left me behind. I finished the run under my goal though! (28:34/5K/71st)

Total time: 1:54:35/145th place overall. I wanted to finish in under 2 hours. YAY ME!!

I don't know if I'll do another one. I'd like to. I think. I am sure that I didn't practice swimming enough. Since that one is the hardest for me, I avoided it the most. If I decide to do it again, I will really emphasize swimming.

I would like to put together a team and train together and possibly compete together, either as individuals or as relay teams. If any of you think you'd be interested in this possibility, tell me so we can brainstorm about how to make it happen. I have some ideas already floating in my brain. (Remember where I live. If you aren't close enough to participate, don't tell me you'd like to unless you're going to come here and practice. OK?)

p.s. I didn't piss myself until I was less than a hundred yards from the finish line. I just did a little bit, but I was on the verge of letting it all go. I really did have to go. I didn't even catch my breath first. I went straight to the bathroom (on a toilet) before I did anything else. (Happy Brandi?)

the next time you see me...

I'll be a triathlete!!

I'm so excited I could pee my pants which I will probably do because that happens when I run. About a mile into my run, when I overcome the intense feeling of quitting, my mind gives up and lets my body take over. I'm on autopilot. It's exhilarating! It's great! It's when I feel like I could run forever!

Unfortunately for my shorts, my pelvic floor muscles decide that they don't need to keep up the pace, and take a break. Not a long break. It's more like a mini-smoke break. Just enough to get quick nicotine fix, but not enough time for a whole cigarette. That's what my bladder does. It's pretty annoying when it happens because - well, because I don't like the idea of pissing myself. I've been potty trained for more than 30 years, and I kinda like it that way.

I've tried everything I can think of. I've tried the most logical choice: pee before running doesn't work. I've restricted my fluids: risk of dehydration. Kegel exercises: great muscle tone for other pelvic activities, but not so much for this one.

At least I'll be wearing padded shorts. And I'll already be wet. Maybe it won't matter. Maybe I should just accept my pissypants for what they are, and be OK with them. Maybe I should get off the computer and pack my things together so I'll be ready to go when it's time to go.

I think I'll go do that.

I'm outta here!

What I Haven't Been Doing:

1. blogging
2. knitting
3. working
4. cooking

What I have been doing:

1. having mini-panic attacks about open-water swimming
2. being talked down from those panic attacks by the best friend in the world, Suzan. (Sorry Amy, your level of expertise is nil on this one. She wins the BF category in this arena)
3. running (under 26 minutes/5K)
   
4. biking (Love it!!)
5. swimming? (That belongs up there. Refer to #1. Avoidance is the best answer, right?)
6. gardening (Hey, I have to do something instead of swimming, right?)
   

The triathlon is happening in four more days! Who wants so skip church and cheer me on?

T Minus 16

I ordered my wetsuit yesterday. I'll need it. As of yesterday, the water temperature in the lake where I'll be swimming was 56 degrees. That's FYTO cold!!

I'm getting on my bike every chance I get. It's great! I love love love riding my bike. There's only one drawback: I now have huge manly quads. I have man-thighs! Aaaaaaah!! I think I'm at the point where I'll have to stop putting my jeans into the dryer. My jeans are tight!! BUT!!!! My ass? Fab-u-lous!! I love it!!

I am excited, nervous, and scared all at the same time. I can't wait until April 18th.

AND THE WINNER IS........

...but first let me tell you how many stitches were involved.

285 in the actual bootie. BUT!!! The strap had an additional 16 stitches. Total: 301 stitches.



Monique, I'll be putting them in the mail today.

To everyone else who participated, call or email me and we can 'work something out'. That would be considered the pregnancy discount.

There's also a COT discount. So, if you fall into that category, you can still get in on the action!

Contest ends at 23:59:59 tonight

So submit your guesses! Who's gonna win!?!!?

Free giveaway? Did someone say Free?

Be prepared to spontaneously gestate......or at the very least be compelled to steal someone's baby just so you can put this on chubby feet.

These will be the giveaway. Answer this question correctly:
How many stitches did it take to create this beautiful display of baby-wearable art?

Rules:

• contest ends 3/29/2010
  
• you must be pregnant (be prepared to prove it if I ask)
  
• you may submit one guess each day until the contest ends
• you must guess in the comments section of this blog post - for everyone to see!!!
  
• just like the price is right, the person who guesses closest to the actual number without going over, wins!
  

If you don't want to pay for some, come to Knit Click on April 12th and learn to make them yourself.

Otherwise, they'll be $15 for one pair. It's made of 70% merino wool, 20% alpaca, 10% silk. This is quality stuff here. So, get to guessin'.

For My Non-Facebook Friends

(Why does one look bluish and the other gray? It's supposed to be gray like the first picture. Help me, photography friends.)

I guess you all should be able to experience my awesomeness too. Scroll down a couple of posts to see the bib I made.

Mother Nature can suck it!

Doesn't she know that she's being terribly mean to me right now?

The weather right now is perfect to go run a couple (3) miles. Or ride many (15-20) miles on my bike. The birds are chirping. The sun is shining. It's crisp and clear and absolutely perfect. Only there's one problem: my period. My Aunt Flo from the Red River Valley is passing through. That 'ho dropped by last night and plans to stay for a few days. She's brought gifts too! Cramps, fatigue, upset stomach, grouchiness! What more could a girl who is training for a triathlon ask for?

I'll tell you what- do the freakin' math. In approximately 28 days, I'll be swimming/biking/running in Virginia.

She had better be nice and give me more good weather when my Tía Flo leaves. That's all I'm sayin'.

Two things

1. I think I have found a new favorite girl group. You can listen to them aqui. They sound kinda like another girl group I like called Company of Thieves. Have you heard of them? Tell me what you think.
2. I'll do a contest for a baby bib. I'll have to make it first. Look for the contest next week.

*I've never done a contest. How does it work? How do I choose? Quick!! Tell all your friends. I want some competetion on here. Monique likes competetion!

taking a break

I know someone who is having a baby, so I decided that I'd make something for her baby. It's a bib. I am going to make another one the next time I need a break from my sweater.

I am making a cuddly bunny blankie too. I'll finish that tonight and post pictures tomorrow. I started both of these projects last night. They have taken a couple of hours to make. Who's having a baby?

craaazy skillz

I just held the yarn.

Clique? No, click!

You know, click. Click, click, click, click. The sound aluminum knitting needles make when you are busy knitting. We had our first Knit Click meeting today. It was so much fun!Ariella and I spent some time teaching everyone how to knit. Doesn't Tiffany look so focused?She was so focused, in fact, that she was totally ignoring her screaming child. That's ok Tiff, we understand. Slavka can't even stop knitting while she's feeding her baby. It's THAT much fun!We even got football-girl, Shelly to knit. Doesn't she look cute? Yes, that's a ball of garden twine I am knitting with. SSSSH, it's a secret project for a friend. Don't tell her. I didn't take any pictures of all the kids that were here. Let's just say that Marianne isn't used to so many toddlers all in one house at a time. I'll get used to it. Next month's Knit Click meeting is April 12th. Everyone is invited. Even toddlers.

i guess it's time for an update

• i've been knitting
• i've been hanging out with ariella in her living room chatting and knitting
• i've been looking up patterns to knit
• i've been learning new knitting skills
• i haven't been training for my triathlon like i should because i want to stay home and knit
• i've gained the weight i wanted to gain because i have been sitting on my ass knitting
• when i wear certain jeans i have a muffin top, so i don't wear those jeans anymore
• my ass looks AMAZING!!
• i want a new job
• correction to above: i want to start my own in home personal training biz
• i also want to start holding boot camp classes at my home
• i think i might call them 'torture with tex'. do you think people would want to come?
• i need some people to train. who's up for it?
• i'm an awesome trainer. seriously. i am worth it.
• this is the longest list of bullets EVER!!
• are you all still interested?
• i'm being a brat now
• you're still reading
• i love you all
• MWAH!!