Stories of a Traveling Diva

IM70.3 National Harbor–Guess It’s For Real, Huh?

2012-02-08T21:11:00.001-05:00

As you already know, I registered for the Ironman 70.2 National Harbor on August 5th. Turns out I was one of the 1st 500 that registered and I got me a free Headsweats hat for being an early bird.

OMG! When I saw that package with the IM70.3 logo on the outside, the hat, the note, the postcard…WHAM!…this ish is FOR REAL, FOR REAL.

WOW.

Here I come. TravelDiva…YOU ARE AN IRONWOMAN!!!! (at least half of one…LOL)

IM70.3–Purpose Driven Training

2012-02-08T15:41:00.001-05:00

I’m 3 weeks into my training plan with Coach Lionheart and last Saturday after a grueling brick workout, that there is a method to his madness. The first two weeks were pretty much a constant of me debating, arguing, fussing & fighting over each workout, frequency, timing, duration.

I believe that both of us (Coach & I) have evolved. Tarus in how he coaches me – me in how I accept and execute the information. When Tarus started explaining to me the “WHY” behind whatever I was supposed to do that day/week…it started to make sense and in just this short period of time, I was feeling like the Six Million Dollar Man – better, stronger, faster.

With a PLAN & a PURPOSE, I have absolutely no fear that I can and WILL achieve all of my goals this season – especially FINISH STRONG in my 1st IM70.3 race. With my Coach & training plan…we have the technology, we can rebuild her…she will be better, stronger, faster.

I highly recommend that if you are taking on a big goal/race for the 1st time that you get and follow a plan. Train with a purpose. If you can’t afford a coach for your
event(s), there are SO MANY virtual, online, books, videos, youtube training plans, clubs, workshops etc. that you can use. I HIGHLY recommend that you follow some kind of plan. If your training is all over the place and you are just doing stuff to be doing it, then expect your results to be, well, all over the place.

So, you want to increase your run pace? Are you just running or are you putting in some intervals, speed work, hills etc.? You want to do a tri and you are sure that because you know you can ~~frolic in the water at the beach~~ swim…mmmm okay. Have you done any open water swims, practice swimming over a mile in the pool, come up with a game plan for when there are 300 other people in the water with you? How about that bike? Are you practicing specific skills, cadence drills, hill work?

PURPOSE DRIVEN TRAINING!

Last year, I completed all those races. Yeah, I finished, but I didn’t get better, faster, stronger over time. My finish times were about the same. Yes, I got better from my very first tri, but then I was flat. Finished and that was all. This year, I want to be better, get better, look better. I still may not age group place, but I WILL improve. And that Ironman 70.3 – STRONG!!!!

Tell me, friends…are you Training with a Purpose? Share with us what you got going on.

A Good Cup of Joe

2012-02-04T17:29:00.001-05:00

I LUVS me a great cup of coffee. LUVS. Yeah, I hear bout all ya’ll giving it up and whatnot – NOT ME! NOPE. NEGATIVE. Can’t Stop – Won’t Stop.

So, imagine my excitement when the good people over at MyBlogSpark and Kraft asked me to give some Gevalia Kaffe a try and that it would now be available at my local Safeway store. BET. SEND IT!

Let me tell you something…this coffee is GOOD!!!! Damn good I say.

Gevalia Kaffe is much more than your average ‘cup of joe.’ It’s a Swedish-style break from the usual coffee grind. Perfected by the Swedes’ passion for quality coffee for more than 150 years, Gevalia is an exquisitely rich smooth coffee experience that is never bitter…and it hasn’t been as I drink my way through two bags that they sent. Mmmmm….mmmmm.

Gevalia is a luxurious departure from the everyday, an escape from the routine cup of coffee. Whether it’s a morning ritual made just for you, or the finishing touch at a dinner party, it brings the taste of Swedish-style luxury into your home.

And guess what! Gevalia, is now available at Safeway, bringing that oh so smooth taste right to your local Safeway grocery aisle.

Previously available online only, Gevalia is now offering its top-ten varieties in U.S. coffee supermarket aisles nationwide in 10 varieties, including roast and ground, whole bean, flavored and decaffeinated varieties:

Gevalia Traditional Roast (ground and whole bean):
Gevalia Traditional Roast provides a perfectly balanced taste every time. Our most beloved blend – made of choice, mountain-grown Arabica beans – this coffee has a distinctive body and flavor with a lighter intensity. (Medium Roast).
Gevalia House Blend:
A Gevalia favorite, House Blend is a robust yet never bitter coffee. This roast has a captivating aroma that is only matched by its exceptional flavor. (Medium/Dark Roast)
Gevalia House Blend Decaf :
Delivering the same rich, never bitter flavor, House Blend Decaf has the same robust taste without all the caffeine. (Medium/Dark Roast).
Gevalia French Roast (ground and whole bean):
Gevalia French Roast is a coffee of impressive richness and dimension, expertly crafted from prized Arabica beans grown in Colombia and Brazil. Hints of aromatic smoke give this dark-roasted French Roast blend an intense, yet uniquely satisfying flavor. (Dark Roast).
Gevalia Colombia:
Grown high in the Colombian Andes, these beans produce a rich, bright and well-bodied Colombian coffee. This single origin classic is world-renowned, which is why we have sourced these beans for decades. (Medium Roast).
Gevalia Espresso Roast:
Gevalia Espresso Roast is made of premium, mountain-grown Arabica beans from East Africa and Central and South America. This roast is bold and full-bodied with a hint of caramel undertones. (Dark Roast).
Gevalia Vanilla:
This rich blend with vanilla flavor notes is crafted from choice mountain-grown Arabica beans, then roasted for exceptional body and flavor. Gevalia Vanilla is a flavorful and balanced experience with a heavenly aroma.
Gevalia Chocolate Mocha:
Gevalia Chocolate Mocha allows you to indulge your passion for decadent flavor. Rich, velvety chocolate flavor is blended with mountain-grown Arabica beans for a sweetly satisfying experience.

With its Swedish heritage and rich, never bitter taste, Gevalia is a premium coffee unlike any other.

Having Gevalia in your kitchen means you care about the quality of the coffee you consume and enjoy rich, authentic flavors.
Gevalia offers a variety of authentic rich flavors that are perfect for everything from a relaxing morning cup of coffee to an indulgent after dinner compliment.

YOU KNOW YOU WANT SOME!

Well, I’m gonna make you happy. If you would like to give this delicious Gevalia coffee a try (I am thoroughly enjoying the House Blend right now) leave me a comment on which of the Gevalia Kaffe varieties are you most looking forward to picking up at Safeway to try? Use the rafflecopter thingy to get more entries.

Here is what one lucky coffee aficionado will get:

Kraft Foods has provided sample product to me and is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me. This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Stories of a Traveling Diva.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IM70.3–Ballin’ (Fitness Equipment) on a Budget

2012-02-03T12:09:00.001-05:00

Here is an update/excerpt to Gear, Gear & Pocket Book Tears. You CAN Ball (I WORKOUT!) on a Budget.

Vintage Black Glamour

2012-02-03T09:29:00.001-05:00

February is Black History Month and if you haven’t discovered Vintage Black Glamour on the Book of the Face, then you need to click on over there and check it out. The images & stories are just amazing:

Vintage Black Glamour is a forthcoming book and visual tribute to some of the glamorous, accomplished and often groundbreaking black women - legendary and obscure - of the 20th century.

While I was perusing all the pictures and the tumbler page, I kept thinking that the very title described my GMa Willie…perhaps obscure, but pure VINTAGE BLACK GLAMOUR

WillieB, Cabaret singer, Astor Club, London, England

Gear, Gear & Pocketbook Tears

2012-01-31T22:10:00.001-05:00

So, if you are participating in any sport/fitness activity, I am SURE that you have encountered the shock & awe of how much it costs to be fit, train properly, eat healthy and register for races. SHOCK & AWE!!!

It hit me this week as Coach Lionheart (yeah, I’m already a little rebellious) was trying to get me to eat differently and to get my trainer set up and so on and so forth that this little endeavor is KICKING MY PURSE in the ASS!

Look at all this damn stuff…

I had to have a bike – And then you have to have stuff to go with it…Cages (for your beverage), a bento box (for sustenance, money, keys), a case under the seat for my spare tubes, repair kit & first aid, lights, helmet, bike shoes, gloves,ROAD ID, AND I have to have something to dag on wear!

Add to that a bike trainer for winter time training and you have just about hurt my damn feelings. BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE

I gotta swim, so you gotta have stuff for that…Fins, pull buoy, lap counter, kick board (forget that, I’ll borrow that ish at the pool), towels, bathing suits to train in and don’t forget when you actually do a race you might need a wet suit (I’ve never worn one – hate it – I wear rash guards). DA HELL. CHING CHING $$$$$$$$

And well, there’s the running part…shoes, sport bra’s, gear, socks, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, Tune’s on the IPod AND a HRM! – I KNOW I’m forgetting something. It’s prolly in that damn Tribag somewhere in one of those pockets.

Let us not forget the race entry fee’s – KILL ME NOW – and the ever dreaded hair issue. Let me just discuss the hair issue for a minute. It just isn’t …for me. I will snatch it back in a quick second and slap on some H.I.B (Hair I Bought) quick like or I’ll through some Curls in it, twist and go! If I need some heat..well, I’ll blow it dry and cook me some hair with a flat iron and move out. It’s just hair.

Protect it. Keep it moisturized and get to steppin!

Then there is FOOD! Fruits, Veggies, Lean this, Vegan that, Recovery Drinks, Protein Bars. Clean, Lean, Mean…MF’n EXPENSIVE! How about a good ole’ fashioned peanut butter & jelly sammich. JEEZE.

…And let us NOT forget about the safety & comfort items. A MUST! Who knew that Butt Butter was an absolute HAVE TO HAVE! Aleve & Bio.Fre.eze are my bestest friends. And I don’t get on my bike without a first aid kit anymore…that has Aleve in it. Moleskin-be about it. Glide – you best recognize – who hasn’t has something chafed so bad it felt like sandpaper was rubbed all on your skin or something.

So, I scared you off, huh. I hear you. “FUG DAT SHYT! If it gonna be all like that, the hell with it.” – I know! It is pricey, but it can be done on a budget and even while swimming sideways in the TET (Tough Economic Times).

I did my first race on a gifted mountain bike. My current bike isn’t anything to write home about but Dominique Diva is mine and was under $500. Join Free cycle clubs in your area AND Tri/Cycling/Run Clubs – people are VERY generous. From free to cut rate prices…you can build you gear closet. I scour sales and race expo’s for deals on equipment, clothing and anything I need. Swa.ggle and other fitness deal sites should become your friend.

I do my own hair – Google your hair questions – attend YouTube university – ask fellow sport enthusiasts…been there, done that. I gave up some things in order to do this thing. I wear the bathing suits I had to train in OR I wear one of my bathing suit skirts with a workout top (spandex material) with a sports bra (you gonna do that in a Tri anyway, soooo…). I don’t have a wet suit. I watched Total Immersion videos on YouTube till I could afford a course. I worked off a training plans downloaded free of of the internet till I could afford a coach. It can be done.

Now I ain’t gonna lie…it still is a $$$ proposition, but it CAN be done.

Ask me your questions, I WON’T tell you any lies.

IM70.3 VLOG–3 Days of Workouts–188 Days to Go

2012-01-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

Lord Have Mercy On My Soul. This is just 3 days of workouts…BASE BUILDING!!!! One hour on the treadmill, two hours (22 miles) on the bike and a seven mile run. Whew Chile.

GET IT, GET IT.

VLOG: IM70.3–Weigh-in Sob Story

2012-01-29T09:47:00.001-05:00

It’s not always grins & giggles…yet the journey continues.

Video Blog–A TravelDiva’s Journey to Ironman 70.3

2012-01-27T23:28:00.001-05:00

First video blog of my journey to the Ironman 70.3 National Harbor. Join me for the adventure & challenge of a lifetime.

Sh*t Triathletes Say

2012-01-25T11:30:00.000-05:00

FUNNY!! “If it can be compressed, why wouldn’t you compress it?” Bwwaaahaahaa!

Meeting Madness

2012-01-25T10:18:00.001-05:00

…The random stuff that goes through my head about the shyt that happens/is said at meetings.

Why do they always thank you for coming to the meeting…”I appreciate you coming. Thank You.” As if it was optional to attend. Seriously.

That blond, slim (almost anorexic) look for a pharma rep is still alive & well.

I’m not JUST a sales rep…I’m a Change Agent. *insert eye roll*

“Hyper Focused Strategy”…Explain to me how to be HYPER and FOCUSED at the same damn time. SIGH.

I can already tell from the way my District Manager is looking at me that I have not fixed my face enough to “look engaged.” Oh well. I’m a work in progress.

What exactly is the point of being “very” knowledgeable about the disease state and process if you are not allowed to EVER use that knowledge to compare & win (competitively sell vs. competitors)? Anybody can be taught to read a damn script and saying “I dunno” get’s real old…even to your clients. Just sayin’.

Us old school change agents are one sentence away from being a compliance/HR nightmare, but we are some change agent sell our azz off mofo’s though. WINNING!

Only a half day in on the two day meeting and I’m already losing the “give a shit” battle.

I love team building activities.

When all methods of persuasion fails…inserting fear, doubt, uncertainty into the the mix works. Really..it does (but it probably isn’t “compliant”).

It’s funny how you all of a sudden become like E.F. Hutton when your sales numbers are kicking the AZZ off of every body else in the district.

Best get your umbrella cause I’m raining KNOWLEDGE down on ya’ll. (But only the “compliant” stuff mind ya.)

…and just when I thought I was fakin’ the give a shyt funk, my Regional Manager sits down next to me.

Look engaged. Look engaged. Look engaged. Look engaged.

It's 5 o’clock in the PM

Meeting nuttin’ but mayhem

You said it’d be over soon

So I snuck out to the break room

And I thought I’d just wait there

Until time for the team dinner affair

I’d pretend I was interested and I was dreaming…

What psychedelic drug was the marketing team on when they came up with the name for our new combo product? I can’t even pronounce that mess. SMDH.

It’s 5 o’clock in the morning…

We are going to do a “DEEP DIVE” into the data. o_O …vs. a shallow one?

WTF is a Secret Sauce (Best Practice) Mentor. These names for shit is NOT cute.

Recognition/Award Time!!!

-Biggest jump in regional rank #35 to #6 (TRx MS .3 to 3.5) post launch

- Top TRx product volume in District

- Tied for Top Overall NRx product volume

- Most strategic approach with routing & teamwork coordination

- Managed care lead

HOW BOUT THAT PLASTIC TROPHY! I got a hug too!

Nothing makes the day go by faster than to get a call for the final interview on a dream job/opportunity.

THANK YOU JESUS for that text from Ms.Pattey…it came just as my forehead was about to dent the table.

Holy Smoke! The President might stop by the resort for the DNC Meeting also being held here! WHAT! Oh, I can’t go down that hallway. Oh okay. Yeah. Those Se.c.r.et Service people are NO JOKE. They look like if you even breathed in their general direction I would have an appointment with a marble floor, gun muzzle and some latex.

Yep. I’m moving along. Nothing to see.

AST (Advanced Sales Training)…okay…good info. SOOOOOOoooo, when your trainer AND DM admit they were “poor sales people” until they went through the training (AS A TRAINER & DM) o_O, does that mean that poor performance is how you get promoted in these streets? {{{{O_O}}}} HARD DAMN STARE.

Seriously!? So now we are Change Management Consultants?

I think I’m bleeding from my eyes.

Only things worth “taking away” from the meeting:

- Be interested NOT interesting.

- Stay in the moment.

- Seek First to Understand.

Do you ever want to drink straight from the bottle after company meetings?

Let the Adventure to Ironman 70.3 Begin

2012-01-22T22:28:00.002-05:00

The goal has been set. The races have been selected. I have a Coach. Let the Adventure Begin…

I AM GOINGTO BE AN IRONMAN…or at least half of one!

This is a big year for me, so I wanted to celebrate the year with some big things. Here is what’s on tap:

April 15th – Clyde’s 10K

April 28th – DERBY HALF MARATHON – this is a biggie (one of my “A” Races) cause I’m going to be there when my BFF MsPattey achieves her goal of her 1st Marathon!

May 20th – Warrior Dash – for grins and giggles.

June 6th - 25th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

June 24th – Philly Triathlon

Aug 5th – IRONMAN 70.3 NATIONAL HARBOR!!!!!!!!!

Sept 27-30 – 25TH CLASS REUNION – WEST POINT'

Oct 6th – Seagull Century

Oct 21st – Army 10 Miler

And to make this whole season even mo betta…I have IM Tarus Nelson, who will from now on be know at Coach Lionheart, as my Training Consultant. I know what you are thinking…how much does THAT cost. Well, Tarus just got his USAT Coach Certification and has started a non-profit youth triathlon team (Strive to Tri) – his goal this year is to send a group of youths this year to participate in 4 races with the funds raised. So, for a $600 donation to Strive to Tri (which I give half up front and only pay the remaining when I complete my goal race of the 70.3 and am satisfied with the services provided and my results). Strive to Tri is a Jr. Tri Team dedicated to exposing minority youths to the triathlon sport while promoting a healthier, fun lifestyle. All proceeds from Coach Lionhearts consultations will ensure our children have the resources their counterparts possess.

P.S. He does more than just coach triathletes. FYI.

I am already satisfied (albeit a tad hysterical and obsessive compulsive). He is/has already put a training plan together for me (whew, chile, intense but doable) as well as a nutrition plan (he is trying to get me to go all vegan…I’m a work in process) and I have emailed, texted and talked with him on the phone incessantly numerous times over the past few days.

I can’t wait to get started. I AM A TRIATHLET!!!

Do you have any big goals set for this year? What ya doing? Tell me all about it & lets keep each other accountable.

Another Random Test

2012-01-20T23:08:00.001-05:00

of the raggedy blogging system. Don’t click on none, won’t be none.

UPDATE: VOTING STARTED: Wedding of a Lifetime

2012-01-20T22:40:00.000-05:00

Starting on Friday, January 20, TOMORROW, at 10am, people can vote once a day for their favorite finalist – KEVIN & EILEEN up until Sunday, January 22 at 3pm. That would mean each person can vote 3 times from one log in. In order to vote, you need to go to http://dadt.com/live/contest/hawaiiwedding/. It appears that you can vote 3 times from each separate email address, so if you have more than one.... keep voting :)

It is a pain in the but to vote because you have to register in order to vote, but at least do it one - PRETTY PLEASE. I sincerely appreciate it.

I hope you will take a moment and vote for our friends that found a Second Chance at Love and help them have the wedding of a lifetime merging their two families together.

BUCKFLUFFY FRIDAY - Brigadier General Lewis

2012-01-20T17:46:00.001-05:00

Souper You!

2012-01-19T13:22:00.002-05:00

Allrighty…we are waaay into the New Year. How’s that resolution/goal you set for your self holding up? Not whimping out already, are you?
Well, now that the ball has dropped and the confetti has settled, it’s time to consider how you will stick to your resolution for the New Year and maintain your weight management plan, without sacrificing on variety or the taste of foods you love.

Thanks to Progresso®, you can have your soup and eat it too! Now, while I have recently started making my own soup from scratch (see…@Nineteen69 got me started with that oh so easy, yet re-DAM-diculously tasty chicken & dumplings), I do love me some Progresso Soups. Easy-peasy!

With 40 delicious soups with 100 calories or less per serving, Progresso Soup has a variety of offerings that help you beat diet boredom and satisfy your taste cravings, while helping you stick to your weight management calorie goals. Progresso soups are packed with hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, rice, meat and vegetables that suit your taste buds and make you feel good about including it in your meal choices.

Hey! Are you ready for a new look this New Year? Progresso^® is excited to announce the return of their Souper You^® Contest giving you the chance to win an incredible makeover! By telling Progresso why you deserve a makeover and what you love about their soup, you could have the chance to win an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood this Spring! Check this out...

This year, the Souper You® Contest will provide three lucky winners with an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood; this includes a trip for 2 to Los Angeles, California where the winner will receive a head-to-toe makeover including hair and makeup, guided shopping spree with a $1,000 fashion retailer gift card, $1,000 spending money and 2 tickets to this season’s live finale of NBC’s The Biggest Loser.

Progresso is asking fans to visit www.SouperYou.com and submit their photo with a brief essay about why they love Progresso soups and why they deserve a makeover, by no later than February 22nd
Fans can check back on March 12th for the announcement of the top ten finalists, and to vote for their favorite finalist until March 25th.

In addition, visit http://bit.ly/ProgressoCoup to download a printable coupon for $1.25 off the purchase of four (4) cans of Progresso Soup today. Also, tune into The Biggest Loser on NBC Tuesdays at 8/7c

Don't want to do all of that? Well, how about entering to win a SouperYou prize pack from the TravelDiva...see rafflecopter entry form below and what you will win.

Disclosure: The Progresso^® Souper You^® prize pack, information, coupon, and giveaway have been provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Wedding of a Lifetime

2012-01-16T15:46:00.001-05:00

Our friend of 29 years and USMA Classmate, Kevin Houston and his fiancée, Eileen Bellew entered into the Live with Kelly Hawaiian Dream Wedding Giveaway and made it to the final 5.

All this week the #LiveWithKelly Show will present each couple's story and then America decides who deserves this tropical honor.

Ron & I believe that Kevin & Eileen deserve this honor. We have been with Kevin since Beast Barracks at WP. Ron & Kevin played Army Basketball together and were Co-Captains of the team 86-87. Kevin stood as groomsman in our Wedding and we were there when Kevin married his childhood sweetheart, Liz. We supported and loved on Kevin & Liz, as she endured the ravages of Scleroderma and we Gripped Hands at her passing. I remember spending a weekend with Kevin & Liz during her illness and I stood with her for 2 hours at her son’s basketball game (for she could not sit in the bleachers and she didn’t want to start relying on a wheelchair yet). During that time, she shared with me her concern for Kevin’s happiness after her passing – she wanted his friends (and Kevin) to know that it was okay for him to let go and move on. Her strength and beauty moved me beyond words. And… Ron and I were there as Kevin moved forward with his life with his 3 kids…and we were never more excited to see Kevin with a sparkle in his eye – again – with the possibility of new love.

Kevin & Eileen deserve this honor.

Their story will be featured TOMORROW - Tuesday, January 17 on #LiveWithKelly (@LiveKelly). Now, the important part: Starting on Friday, January 20, at 10am, people can vote once a day for their favorite finalist up until Sunday, January 22 at 3pm. That would mean each person can vote 3 times from one log in. In order to vote, you need to go to www.livewithkelly.tv. It appears that you can vote 3 times from each separate email address, so if you have more than one.... keep voting :) VOTE EARLY! VOTE OFTEN!

Forgive me for how long this post is, but enclosed below is the letter Kevin wrote that got them to the finals. Please read and vote for my friends. I sincerely – they sincerely appreciate it.

To fall in love once and marry your best friend is an amazing feeling, a dream come true. Falling in love a second time, after all of your dreams are tragically shattered, and marrying the love of your life is even more amazing. That is the story of us, Eileen Bellew and Kevin Houston.

In January 2005, Eileen’s world was turned upside down in an instant. Her husband of 10 years, John Bellew, one of New York City’s Bravest, lost his life in a catastrophic fire, which became known as Black Sunday. Married in July 1995, Eileen and John had a life full of love, and four beautiful children who were 6, 3, 2, and 5 months at the time of John’s death. She was on maternity leave from the job she dearly loved as a science teacher in Pearl River, NY. Eileen not only raised her own children as a working mom, but she inspired and encouraged children throughout the community as a teacher, and the positive impact she left on many students is still evident today, even though she has been unable to return to the classroom. Eileen was at home on January 23, 2005, a freezing cold, snowy winter day, when her attention was drawn to a special report on TV broadcasting news of a horrific fire in the Bronx, NY, and serious injuries to firemen who responded to the blaze. She was chilled by what she was hearing, but was unable to get further information on John’s status, who she knew was at the fire. Fearing her worst nightmare, Eileen was soon on her way to St. Barnabas hospital, pictures of her four young children in hand. When she arrived, the terror and uncertainty she feared gripped and shook her to her core. A short time later, John succumbed to his injuries, and their life’s plans and dreams were immediately and irrevocably shattered. In an instant the wonderful world she had known just hours before was thrown into complete chaos. She returned home, devastated and heartbroken, but still had to face another unimaginable hurdle - telling her children that their daddy would not be coming home again. One by one she delivered the message to each of them and began to prepare for the seemingly impossible future that awaited her in that instant. Inspired by her four young children, her little angels, Eileen kept her family moving forward despite the difficulty, sadness, and emptiness that surrounded her on a daily basis. Over the last six years, she has watched her two daughters and her two sons grow and mature into wonderful, well adjusted children, all the while reminding them of John’s courage and bravery, as well as the many great traits he displayed as a father.

In January 2009, Kevin’s world was also toppled. Immediately following his graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1987, Kevin married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth. Kevin and Liz were married for 21 years, when Liz succumbed to a long term illness, a rare autoimmune disease called Scleroderma that eroded her quality of life over a five year period. Kevin and Liz also lived a charmed life, full of love and happiness, with three fantastic children who were 20, 16, and 13, when their world crumbled. Over the course of five years, prior to her death, Kevin was Liz’s primary care giver as she steadily lost her independence and her ability to do the everyday tasks we all take for granted. He was beside her throughout and offering encouragement even when various medical options failed. But he was not alone; his children were also excellent caregivers. The sacrifices each of them made over that five year period contributed to Liz maintaining a positive attitude and happy disposition despite the limitations Scleroderma placed on her and her family. Liz, too, was also a teacher and worked with children at summer camps for many years, but her illness made it impossible for her to continue doing what she loved, being around children. On January 3, 2009, the physical toll that Scleroderma took on Liz proved too much. Kevin’s worst fears had arrived. He gathered his children at the hospital, and sat on the floor before them – the task – telling them that all medical options were exhausted and the miracle they had wished for all week was not going to be realized. Their mother was dying. A short time later they gathered at her bedside to be with her as she peacefully passed away. Kevin, too, drew inspiration from his children, and collectively they have moved forward in the midst of the same difficulty, sadness, and emptiness that the Bellew family endured. In that time Kevin’s oldest daughter completed college and her master’s degree, while his son earned an athletic scholarship to college, and his youngest daughter is near finishing high school. There are everyday reminders everywhere of Liz’s courage and the great attributes she embodied as a mother.

Although Eileen and Kevin grew up in the same small town, and were only five years apart, they had not previously met. Both knew full well the tragedies each other and their children endured as a result of losing a spouse and a parent. In late 2009, Eileen and Kevin subsequently met and enjoyed each other’s company over a casual dinner, unaware something very special was happening. They soon thereafter fell in love. They have had the overwhelmingly awesome experience of finding in each other, the person they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with, despite the enormous losses each had endured. In each other they found soul mates with whom to build new dreams with, and to spend Happily Ever After with. They also found in each other that the future was once again something to embrace and look forward to with happiness and excitement, instead of something to fear. Their’s is the ultimate love story and they sealed their commitment to each other this past May when they got engaged.

Eileen and Kevin, and their families, frequently look to the skies for mindful and loving signs from John, who sends Rainbows, and Liz, who sends soaring Hawks. Those are the loving signs telling them that John and Liz are always nearby, looking out for all of them, and reminding them of happy times, past – present – and future. They often remind each other, sometimes through tears, how lucky they were to have had John and Liz in their lives, even if it was for too short a time.

Eileen and Kevin are most deserving of a Dream Wedding in Hawaii. Despite the horrible tragedies that befell them and their families, and sent them into emotional free falls, they have rallied, collected themselves, stayed positive, and risen up to dream again. Smile on them and send them soaring in the Rainbow state, Hawaii, for the Wedding of a Lifetime.

Dream Catchers

2012-01-14T20:49:00.001-05:00

My girl, Nineteen69, wrote a great post the other day regarding the Invasion of the Goal Snatchers. No such truer words. I have dealt with my share of Goal/Dream Snatchers (or just plain Negative Nelly’s)…from the “Why in the world are you doing all this crazy ish?” to the (make me want to slap the snot out of you) “You don’t LOOK like a triathlete.” or my all time favorite “You do all that working out stuff and you don’t look any different.”

To those comments I say, yeah, well this chick that doesn’t LOOK the way you think I should look could beat the fugg out of your narrow, sit on the couch, occasionally doing some Pilates/yoga/stretching – whatever doesn’t cause you to sweat or muss your hair – AZZ with one arm tied behind my back in stiletto heels. WTF EVER.

I learned long ago to not let those fools ruin this here show. I do what I want, when I want, how I want. I do it with flair, sparkle and red lipstick at every chance. What I have done, in order to pop a cap in the nugget of a Goal Snatcher Zombie, is surround myself with a cadre of Dream Catchers – people that embrace your goals with you, keep you accountable, workout with you, send you training plans, cheer, nag, push, love & believe even when you don’t.

People like Nineteen69 – who is my shero and gave me a refresher course in commitment, perseverance & giving it all.

MsPattey – who is a living example to me of what happens when you set a goal & execute that plan. I live vicariously through her adventures. It is going to be an absolute honor to be there at the finish line of her 2012 goal of 26.2.

BK – Fit & Fabulous! Waaaay more fit than me but calls me Team Captain. She makes me feel invincible.

Becca – intense & focused. ALWAYS has the grin and sparkle in her eye that gets you to set new and seemingly impossible goals. This heffa right here…Whew!

There are my new friends at TriUnify, MidMarylandTri, Baltimore Metro Wheelers Cycling Club (AND the OC’s) & BlackGirlsRun. Of course, there isn’t (at least I haven’t found) a negative nelly in the bunch. Special shout out to Maddy – that girl right there…BEASTLY!!! She saved my life on the SeaGull Century.

GBaby, Robin, IGator, IMTaurus, BigNuts, Ryan, Juanita…I could go on. GET IT! My peeps

Then there are my professional spectators – they take race spectating to a whole new level – my daughter, Princess Erin, being the epitome of spectating – maps, routes, pictures, video, signs – take a lesson from her. SissySays with the daily hugs and “what did you do today – don’t you need to work me out.” accountability. The FireMarshall – he carry’s my gear, set’s things up, makes sure I want for nothing and makes it possible to put in odd & long training hours. Without him, I couldn’t get it in. The Queen Mother – who thinks (and knows) I’m crazier than a bed bug, but shows up with camera, telephoto lens & fold up seat and is my personal paparazzi.

I’m prolly missing some crucial people. My apologies. Ya’ll know who you are. Suffice it to say that my Dream Catcher Squad ROCKS and way overshadows the Zombies from the Invasion of the Goal Snatchers. If you have those Zombie Goal Snatchers around you, POP a cap off in their melon and roll out. DO YOU! FUGG THEM!

Goal Snatchers throw salt on your dreams because people changing their lives make their own lives seem stagnant or insignificant. To quote the sage philosopher, Kanye “I know you rather see me die than to see me fly.” - Nineteen69

Surround yourself with Dream Catchers and watch yourself soar!

Rafflecopter- A New Way of Running Blog Giveaways

2012-01-09T21:41:00.001-05:00

Have you ever ran a giveaway on your blog and just use some kind of basic commenting & then random number generator to select the winner? Well, if you want to check out a whole new awesome way of running a giveaway - you need to check out Rafflecopter.

Rafflecopter makes the whole process of running giveaways on your blog really, really easy. Over 80,000 giveaways have been created with Rafflecopter, and if you didn’t know yet, there’s a new version in town! Oh yeah, it’s free. If you haven’t used Rafflecopter, sign up and launch a giveaway in the matter of minutes.

To celebrate the new year, Rafflecopter is going to give away a 16GB Apple iPad2 and several Kindle Fires. The giveaway starts Monday 1/9 at 12:01 a.m. and lasts for a month. To enter, simply tell them who referred you to this giveaway! - ME You can receive additional entries by tweeting about this giveaway, following us on twitter, and giving us feedback.

Give it a try...hey bloggers...you'll like it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday Thoughts: Gleanings from TET 2011

2012-01-05T22:13:00.001-05:00

It was very interesting to see how many people hoped & prayed for better times in the 1-2. More interesting were the people surprised by the fact that so many people had a TET (tough economic times) in 2011.

Yep. Had them. I felt no need to wallow in it and share the TET with the whole world. My family and Top Mafia have been bedrocks of support & encouragement and we are making it through.

Been there, done that, got a t-shirt for it.

What I will share are some of what I have learned and/or thought about along the way for this episode of Thursday Thoughts:

- That high horse I was riding; kept warm by a blanket of quick judgment, threw me off for a nice tumble.

- The fall was jolt and eye opener.

- The use LOTS of prayer with a large dose of exercise (how bout those 10 races in 2011) works wonders to alleviate stress, quell panic attacks & crying jags.

- Also…there is way better living through pharmaceutical intervention. Besides adult beverage intervention results in a VERY large ass, soooo…I highly recommend the pill form of intervention.

- Cleaning supplies from the Dollar Store clean just as well as those name brand ones in the grocery store – trust! You ought to try it…once you get over your snobbery, you’ll find some great deals on regular azz stuff. Compare & Win!

- You learn REAL quick like the difference between a NEED & WANT; frivolous expense & basic necessity. QUICK.

- Those hard choices are hard & SUCK big time – at first – and then it gets easier – and then you realize you wasted a whole lot of money on ~~shit~~ stuff that just wasn’t necessary.

- I can go without a whole lot of stuff so that my kids can have whatever they need. Education & Learning Experiences are priority one. Nails, hairs, new stuff – can wait.

- GMa’s are THE BOMB! Pride is folly.

- Not everybody can help you financially, but they can help. Homework, Transportation, Babysitting, Cleaning, Cooking, an Airline Ticket (you know who you are)…and much more. Bartering WORKS. Get familiar.

- Just because you are temporarily broke doesn’t mean you need to look temporarily broke down. Shop that closet, use shit up, squeeze that tube till it screams, get creative, use YouTube university (I learned how to braid extensions into Cara’s hair – ALL BY MYSELF), DIY. I may be in the TET but I will LOOK GOOD while it it. HUMPH.

- I find it a gosh dang disgrace that when a person could use or NEEDS a tad bit of assistance they can’t/don’t qualify. See…those last 2 years of tax returns say you are “rich”. But right now…not so much. Too bad, so sad. That’s the group of people who are now losing their homes, filing bankruptcy – just losing EVERYTHING. SIGH. It takes 2 years of abject destitution and sitting on the waiting list to get “assistance”.

- Too little, too late.

- BTW…not everyone on unemployment & getting assistance is a lazy, shiftless, take advantage of the system, trifling ass, not good for nothing.

- Just Saying.

- A tip to those of you still out there looking for work – It’s easier to find a job when you have a job. GET ONE…any one…even if you are woefully underpaid. Do good at it and keep searching till the opportunity opens for you again. Seriously. It sucks big time out there. NETWORK!

- And YOU – the employer, scoffing and refusing to hiring someone that is/has been unemployed and will only hire someone who has a job – YOUR DUMB & AN AZZ.

- Being the wife (and business partner) of an ambitious, visionary entrepreneur will test the limits of any woman’s love & endurance. Especially when your husband starts a company during the worst economy since the Great Depression. I found out that I’m one of those women that has what it takes. I’m in it to win it. Instead of driving a wedge between us, it drove us closer and I became an asset instead of a hindrance & dream stealer. WE ROCK!

2012 is our year. The 2011 TET is over. I’m speaking it, and so it is. The lessons I’ve learned along the way (and I’m sure there are more)…I’m keeping, for through adversity, we grow.

Do you have a lesson from TET that you care so share? Come one! Do Tell!

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Hostess With The Mostest

2012-01-04T22:37:00.001-05:00

All I have to say is my girl, Ila…she can throw a dag on party! And my mixology skills…unparalleled. Just Sayin’!

~~Party rock is~~ The Tease Sisters are in the house tonight
Everybody just have a good time
And we gonna make you lose your mind
Everybody just have a good time

A New Year Prayer

2012-01-01T15:03:00.001-05:00

May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you most,
and by making you anxious to be there to help.
God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.

My Secret Santa Arrived!!!!

2011-12-27T19:58:00.001-05:00

YEAH!!!! My Secret Blog Santa arrived today!…and I love it. I received this beautiful handmade necklace and a book called “The Alchemist” which my Santa said was a “great story about the importance of life’s journey.” The back of the book has a review that says the story contains “a bedrock of wisdom about following one’s heart.” PERFECT!

I received my gift after the Big Reveal, so it wasn’t a secret anymore. Turns out it is even more special for this year my Secret Blog Santa was the blogger I was the Secret Blog Santa to last year – Kaylyn from Pages from Our Book.

Kaylyn…thank you so much! For the effort, the thoughtfulness, the beauty of your gift. I sincerely appreciate it. May you and Brett have a blessed 2012.

Thank you, Pserendipity, for putting on another year of the Secret Blog Santa. It continues to be a great way of meeting new bloggers and getting to know better bloggers I already “know”.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2011 in Review

2011-12-26T17:17:00.001-05:00

We here at True Blessings Estate pray that you had a joyous & blessed Holiday. To us, this is the MOST Wonderful Time of the Year. Love Ya!

Joy to the World!

Happy Christmas from True Blessings Estate

2011-12-25T11:26:00.001-05:00

Wishing you all a Blessed and Happy Christmas.

May all your days be Merry & Bright!

We Caught Santa!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Look who we caught putting presents around the tree. Thanks to an awesome website - http://www.icaughtsanta.com/ – (and winning the giveaway from Average Mom’s Wear Capes) we were able to keep the magic alive for Princess Cara! Love it!

Merry Christmas!

Twas The Day Before Christmas…

2011-12-24T18:30:00.001-05:00

…and we were busy, busy, busy! My Baby Maia came into town (yeah, yeah…her parents too) so her parents could go the Redskins/Vikings game, our annual Christmas Eve Party and leave out of BWI to fly to Val’s brother’s house in TX for Christmas.

While Manny & Val went to the game. Princess Cara, Princess Maia and I got busy making a Ginger Bread House & Christmas Bark (made famous by CreoleInDC). Princess Maia brought Princess Cara an apron for Christmas and once opened and attired, we got to cooking.

These ladies were serious about that Ginger Bread House. Look at the intensity here as we decorate. What Fun!

After we got done with the Ginger Bread House, I had my helpers work on melting chocolate (under supervision) for the Christmas Bark. Let me tell you how hard it is to keep those little fingers out of the chocolate. They kept insisting on doing taste tests for the sake of the Kingdom. Wanted to make sure that the Bark was fit for consumption and distribution to friends & family. I let the Princess sprinkle the nuts and dried fruit on the chocolate to make their own versions. Interesting how they were very meticulous about nut placement.

What a lovely idea. I’m hoping they are ready in time for me to take to the parties I have to go to this evening.

I hope your Christmas Eve has been starry & bright. Have you been a busy bee today?

Epic Holiday Party!

2011-12-19T19:19:00.001-05:00

This past Saturday was my Holiday Party & Cookie Exchange…and this picture above is just half of those in attendance. WE HAD AN ABSOLUTE BLAST! Thank you to Nineteen69 who came down from Philly to help host this event.

EPIC. The Party started at 2pm and the last 6 or 7 guest rolled out at 11pm. We ate up everything during the party so about 8:30 pm, in order to not have a bunch of people driving home 3 sheets to the wind (that wasn’t going to happen no way-we would have been posted up in the theater watching movies and ish till ya’ll could drive), I whipped up a pan of lasagna. Funny how a bunch of people pulled up round the kitchen island and waited for it to be done. DELICIOUS!!!!

We played Christmas Trivia, had an Christmas Ornament Hunt and everyone got a chance to make their own Ornament (which was judged for a prize). We sang Christmas songs off Pandora, drank pitchers of the two Signature Drinks (Sparking Sidecars and Bubbly Cosmos) & LOTS & LOTS OF WINE!

We even had a gift exchange. The whole evening was filled with laughter and foolishness. It was definitely feeling like Christmas up in the crib Saturday night.

I love my friends & family. GREAT PARTY. GREAT FRIENDS. GREAT TIME!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thursday (Holiday) Thoughts

2011-12-15T19:47:00.001-05:00

My outdoor Christmas Tree has the serious gangster lean going on…yeah, and it will probably stay that way for a while. Not feeling like going out there and trying to straighten it up.

I mailed off my Secret Blog Santa gift today! I think I was very clever, but it is going to be real easy to figure out who it came from. Probably obvious.

Saturday is the Holiday Cookie Exchange Party. I’m so excited to see everyone. I’m thinking the Signature Cocktail is going to be Sparkling Cosmo’s. They look so delish & festive in the picture.

I’m done with all the Christmas Shopping. Finished today. If it ain’t got by now, well, you ain’t getting it. HUMPH.

Now to wrap it all up. Sigh.

The Queen Mum and I have movie night tomorrow night. Gonna see the new Mission Impossible in the IMAX theater. Hope she is springing for some pre-movie cocktails. Hint. Hint.

A new member of my TOP MAFIA shared some news with me today about an opportunity that could mean big things for their family. I have my whole family in prayer over this coming to fruition. We’ve claimed it. It is yours. I’m so happy for them.

I am also thankful, that at this age or time in my life, that I can make new friends that can go into the TOP MAFIA category. It is hard and rare. I am blessed.

The Prince, Heir to the Empire, Protector of the Realm is coming home this weekend for Winter break. You know I got that cheese eating Kool-Aid Momma grin on already.

Ms. Pattey & I best get off our azz and get to running. We done bit off a big ole chunk of running for next year. RUN, PATTEY & LISA, RUN.

Yeah…and that USAT Challenge…SWIM, LISA, SWIM!

Princess Charlee snuck up on me at the Mall today and tried to get all up in my bags. Naw player. Move along. Nuttin’ to see.

I’m going through some holiday TV withdrawal…what da hell I’m s’pose to do without The Walking Dead & Boss till 2012. When does Game of Thrones Season 2 come on?

Winter is Coming!

What you thinking bout?

Army-Navy Football 2011

2011-12-11T23:14:00.001-05:00

We won the Tailgate, the March On and the Coin Toss…but we (Army) lost the game…AGAIN. A Decade of Depression. At least this game was respectable in that it was close. We just can’t seem to stop fumbling and making error after error after error. We just can’t seem to hold the line, to stay strong, to bring our A game. Sigh.

Despite another year of crushing disappointment, I had a wonderful time hanging with my friends & classmates at the game. Absolutely a BLAST! I’m still in recovery and probably need a detox session.

Enjoy the video of the day! BEAT NAVY 2012…please.

A Year of Cycling with the BMWCC

2011-12-11T12:32:00.001-05:00

Friday night I went to the Baltimore Metro Wheelers Year End Happy Hour and I compiled, with the help of Rick, ReggieC, MikeD and others from the club, video and pictures from several of the rides & outings with the club.

I hooked up with BMWCC by random happenstance (although I don’t believe in just coincidence) one day out at Sandy Point after completing an open water swim practice and it has been an absolute joy ever since.

Becca and I walked back up to out bags and were trying to decide how far we were going to go when a group of about 8 cyclists from BMWCC – a predominantly Black Cycling Club (Baltimore Metro Wheelers Cycling Club) rode up. OMG! We struck up a conversation – they had already done the first half of their 50 mile and were about to turn around – DID WE WANT TO JOIN THEM? Hell yeah! One of the riders, Ken, was gracious enough to offer bringing us back to the park after riding 20 miles out to BWI. The game was on!

It was the best group ride I’ve been on to day…wait…it was the ONLY group ride I’ve been on. It was challenging (as they pushed me faster than I was used to going) and absolutely wonderful & fun to have people to ride with that watched out for you, talked & joked with you and were just all around supportive of you (not to mention also looked like you). Black Girls (& Boys) DO Bike, Swim, Run. YES!!!! I can’t wait to go again.

We did 20 miles from Sandy Point to BWI Observation Lot and I didn’t really know that I could go that fast. That last hill at the end whipped me out but I made it.

Shout out to Tania, Carol, Ken and all the other riders (I apologize for forgetting your names) for taking in two stragglers and making us feel right at home.

It was like this the rest of the season with the cyclists from BMWCC. Becca and I are certainly the weakest/slowest cyclists in the group…or perhaps we just ride different as we mostly train for triathlon’s and it is a lot different than group riding or when cycling is your primary focus; however, not once was I ever dropped (I may have been left behind, but I was never abandoned). The cyclists in the club are all the most helpful & encouraging bunch of of cyclists EVER. On every ride there was always some one sharing their knowledge, coaching through adversity & challenges and/or just encouraging to push through. They all inspired a trust & confidence (especially when drafting or in traffic) that I could and would get better & stronger.

Thanks for a great 1st year for me. I look forward to riding with you in 2012 & beyond.

So, fellow “elite” athletes…have you found a club (Tri, cycling etc) that has made all the training and “practicing” your sport fun? Do tell!

‘Twas the Night Before Army-Navy 2011

2011-12-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Santa and Rudolph are back at it, trying to ensure that Santa's beloved Black Knights will be victorious at this year's Army/Navy Game!!! On Brave Old Army Team...

Once again…grown folk talk. You’ve been warned.

‘Twas The Night Before Army-Navy

2011-12-08T09:00:00.001-05:00

This is a repeat from 2010. Careful...grown folk ARMY talk here. You've been warned.

GO ARMY!
BEAT DA HELL OUTTA NAVY WITH A STICK!

Holiday Party Time

2011-12-07T20:14:00.001-05:00

It’s the season for holiday cheer and parties, parties, parties…and, of course, I have have every intention to get in on the festivities by throwing my Second Annual Holiday Party & Cookie Exchange. This year I am putting it on with my co-host (and fellow hostess with the mostest) – Nineteen69. While I thought it would be a lovely touch to send crafty invitations out this year, I just didn’t have the time so I went ahead and put out an Evite right after Thanksgiving.

However, 2 days after the Evite went out, I received an offer from Mixbook.com to try out their site and 30 premium, completely customizable 5x7 flat Mixbook Holiday Party invitations. BOOYA!

I went to their website and it is nicely laid out with lots of options, templates or even the ability to design you own. Editing templates or the design features are easy to use and intuitive. Here is the information about Mixbook:

Mixbook is a leading photo products company that helps people create custom photo books, cards, and calendars. Whether starting from scratch, or using one of our thousands of professionally designed templates, every Mixbook product is 100% customizable. With Mixbook, you can truly Make It Yours™

That last line is accurate. Even if you pick a template…you can truly edit it…even the pictures…and make it your own. I was impressed.

I really didn’t do anything earth shattering with my invite:

…but I was very impressed with the result and the quality of the invitation. If you have an event coming up or are still looking at a place to have your holiday photo cards done, then check out Mixbook.com.

You can also check them out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mixbook or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/mixbook.

If you came last year to the Holiday Party & Cookie Exchange (link to last years party) or want to come this year and didn’t get an evite or mixbook invite then drop me a comment so I can get it out to you. We had a BLAST! Join us and…

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Dear (Secret) Blog Santa

2011-12-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about the blogger secret Santa that Pserendipity set up again going on 3 years in a row! It has been great fun and I’ve participated every year. Each time I have met a bunch of wonderful bloggers, of course expanding my Google reader list.

I've got my secret blogger that I am to select a gift for and have started reading their blog - combing thru the archives trying to figure out the perfect gift. Since the person I selected is completely new to me, I'm having to learn about and infer stuff just by reading. I can't interact extensively with them right now (no commenting) as it would kill the secret. Sigh.

I'm hoping that they post a hint over the next few days so I can be about my mad hunt (just another excuse to shop) for my interpretation of said hint.

Since I'm soliciting a hint or two, I thought I'd post a little blurb about my preference (or proclivities) to help my Secret Santa out. It is pretty much the same as last year, but I've added a few updates.

- I have, on numerous occasions, been called out for my sparkly fabulousness and am easily distracted by shiny, sparkly, bedazzled things. OOOOHHHH SHINY!!!!

- I even bejewel my hair, my running shoes, my bike. Seriously. Don't judge me.
- I have a shoe fetish that is unrivaled with a closet to hold the in. DSW certificate?
- You can NEVER go wrong with anything related to red wine or martini's. I'm not an alcoholic...I'm a professional drinker.
- You can't go wrong with Cigar paraphernalia. My not so secret vice.
- I'm an "elite athlete" ya know. Triathlon training stuff or related in some way would be awesome . SWIM BIKE RUN.

- And if you just lurk around, I’m sure you’ll come up with something just fabulous. No worries.

Bottom line...if it screams DIVA, sparkles and/or is girly, I'm going to be ecstatic.
...and in actuality, any gift I receive that is from the heart and given with as much caring & thought as I know the people involved are (and have put over the past years) putting into this will be a blessing and greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Santa.

12 Days of Mayhem

2011-12-04T19:09:00.001-05:00

The Holiday’s are Mayhem…are you in good hands?

“Lifetime Success”–Army Strong

2011-11-30T22:00:00.001-05:00

Back in August, I was selected to participate in a Army Advertising program titled “Lifelong Success.” This AOL.com program scheduled to be launched next month, will be centered around and feature prior service soldiers telling their story on how the Army helped get them to where they are today.

I was invited to share my story of my transition into the civilian workforce. This advertising campaign is designed to help drive and promote recruitment efforts for the U.S. Army.

I was more than happy to oblige. I certainly attribute my “lifetime of success”, perseverance, commitment & dedication to my education & training at The United States Military Academy & in the Army.

Here is one of the 6 video vignettes that will be featured on the AOL.com Army microsite when released. When I have link to the site, I will update you so you can see all of the awesome people who have led a lifetime of success as a result of their careers in the Army.

Lisa Steptoe: Army Veteran and Medical Sales Professional

Army Veteran. Army Strong. Army Proud.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas…

2011-11-26T21:49:00.001-05:00

The tradition here at True Blessings is to put up our Christmas Decorations starting the day after Thanksgiving. It’s been this way for so many years that I don’t even think about it. We pull down all the storage boxes and commence to decorating….until today.

The lights (all on a timers) came on and my sister exclaimed “OMG! You have got to see how beautiful this is all lit up!”. I didn’t want to get up off the couch to take a look around, but I did and I looked at it through her eyes. Beautiful.

My sister reminded me of something – especially during this holiday season – Take time to stop & admire the beauty, your family, your friends – those perfect moments around you. Pure Joy!

Thanksgiving Memories–True Blessings

2011-11-25T21:36:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:03:00.001-05:00

Wishing you all a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Diva Review: How To Catch Happy

2011-11-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

How to Catch Happy was a nice, inspirational, quick read. I read it on a Sunday afternoon and while I wasn't quite sure how all the fishing stories were going to work - especially since I don't even like to fish (it certainly isn't what would make me happy), I enjoyed the stories and the bottom line...find out what makes you happy and get busy doing it before life passes you by.

This book is not like most of the other self-help, self-improvement books out there - it doesn't have a check list of things to do or exercises to complete. It is just a short collection of stories - actually how 4 people "caught" happy by fishing.

While I enjoyed the book (it was short, sweet & to the point) I did find these stories a tad simplistic and wasn't quite sure if the people in the book were actually "happy" now by just fishing or were just sharing their regrets from their lives while fishing and were trying to still find their way to "happy."

For the price & length, How to Catch Happy is at least a nice reminder that since life is short, we need to take the time to stop and smell the roses and include the thing or things in our life that truly make us happy. Let's not just do all the things we think we are obligated to do - all duty, honor, family, career - etc. - but include the things that bring true joy & happiness to our life.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Swim Smoothly–Total Immersion 1.0

2011-11-20T18:14:00.001-05:00

Swimming smoothly has been my objective ever since I started this Triathlon business. Swim so I don’t panic, so I don’t exhaust myself before I even get out of the water onto the bike, so I don’t drown…swim with ease & confidence.

Well, I managed to get through the last couple of Tri’s without having a panic attack, but it still was just downright exhausting.

Then Ninteen69 said she had heard about Total Immersion Swimming and send me over to some video’s on the Tube of the You. Recall this for my post – TOTAL Immersion:

Well, then I got to dishing on the phone with Nineteen69 about this triathlon business and how we could improve on our swim. She had been looking into this concept of Total Immersion Swimming and looking for a coach. She hipped me to some video clips from the inventor of the Total Immersion Swimming technique - Terry Laughlin – and I was immediately impressed. I watched over an hour of a seminar he gave at MIT on the technique, made them a favorite on my iphone (YouTube app), watched 2 clips again at my gym and decided to give it a try.

As my soror and fellow triathlete, Roz would say – LIFE CHANGING!

Did I master the technique by watching over an hour of video? NO. But I changed my whole way of swimming and did my best to imitate the stroke, relaxation, hand position and NO KICKING and I felt like I was slicing through the water effortlessly. I did 70 laps – 1750 meters - pretty much NON-STOP – and was not winded.

He had me at the 20th lap w/o stopping. SOLD. DONE. Put a fork in me.

Like I said…SOLD! LIFE CHANGING!

Nineteen69 hooked us up with a coach (William Lang) for an all day Total Immersion 1.0 Clinic earlier this month. We were in the pool with him for 8 hours…Team Diva (Rosalyn, Nineteen69, and myself)…drilling, drilling & drilling. We were transformed. Bill was awesome! Patient & thorough, he got us through the basics in one day with a list of drills & workouts that we could do on our own.

I highly recommend that if you want to improve you swimming, learn to swim effortlessly or, as Bill Lang puts it, “ with a combination of grace, efficiency, and mindfulness that is unique to this practice” – especially if you are a newbie triathlete – that you HAVE take one of clinics.

As triathletes, we spend a lot of money on equipment, race entries and other miscellaneous stuff. Total Immersion was some of the best money I’ve spent to improve performance. Oh, and if you are going to spend the moolah…make sure you have a CERTIFIED coach that knows the technique COLD. Seriously. (Easy Freestyle does not necessarily = Total Immersion just like Hot Yoga does not = Bikram) Just Sayin’.

For grins & giggles, enclosed is a video of our before and after. Watch carefully…not to learn the technique, but to see the differences. We went from:

Furiously kicking w/churning water TO Less/No Kicking w/no water displacement
Windmill arms TO “Hand in the mail chute” – ie. placing hand in water, not slapping the water
Lifting head out of water TO Head down, rotating to breath
Butt dragging TO Swimming balanced, even, flat
Splashing on top of water TO Smooth on top of water

You can see that we were gliding, swimming smoothly. Were we suddenly experts? NO. Drill, baby, drill. Practice, Practice, Practice. What I do know is that I am confident that I can swim better & longer without feeling like I am doing a gazillion sprints. WOO HOO!

Before & After.

Have you tied Total Immersion Swimming? What do you think?

Wordless Wednesday…’cause I have no words

2011-11-16T17:52:00.001-05:00

…and you couldn’t tell me NUTTIN’ either. Seriously, white sheer hose? Huh? Bwaaahaaahaahaa!!!!

Weekend Warrior–Blog Hopping

2011-11-13T16:03:00.001-05:00

On Sunday’s I like to catch up on the books on my Nook (oh, that rhymes) and on my blogs in my google reader. I’ve met a lot of great people over the years via blogging both in person & virtually.

In order to meet some more great bloggers, I decided to participate in a Blog Hop! A Blog Hop is a place to meet/read new bloggers. Click on the images below to see a links to a list of blogs participating in the Blog Hop. If you find something you like, check & see if you are following each other on Twitter, etc. It helps increase your bandwidth too! It's always fun to meet new bloggers and expand our network!

Thank You to All Who Served and Are Serving

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all of you that have and are serving our country. God Bless You!

Duty Honor Country

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PATTEY!!!

2011-11-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

It's my TOP MAFIA; Soror; the other half of the HANDY HOTNESS crew and my fellow ~~Swim~~ (she’s working on it), Bike, Run crazy-cake’s….BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

And being the sinister, evil bestie that I am…I went ahead and gifted her the registration for the Derby Festival Marathon – YES – 26 POINT 2 miles. I registered for the Derby Festival Half so I could be there with a beer and a cheer when she comes across the finish line. WOO HOO!!!

I also convinced her to go ahead and jump in the drink with me and we are going to do the Buckhead Border Triathlon in Louisville, KY. OH YES WE WILL!!!!

Happy Birthday, Pattey!!!!

Steptoe Group, LLC–The Why

2011-11-08T19:50:00.001-05:00

I have always been proud of my husband. ALWAYS. He is a man of vision – of purpose. He is driven. A man of character & principle. When I first met him, he told me of his dreams – of one day being the CEO of his own company – of building something big, something with meaning. He was talking about social entrepreneurship before we even knew what that meant.

…And he is DOING IT! I have been on this journey with him for almost 25 years. Though thick & thin, mountain’s & valleys. We have put everything – and I mean EVERY SINGLE THING- into this venture…and so haven’t a lot of our friends & family. We absolutely love and hold dear to our hearts all of those that believe in us – in him. And Ron WILL make this happen. We are still struggling, but we are starting to see the fruits of our labor.

Here is just one blessing that has come out of all the hard work the Steptoe Group team has put in:

On September 19, 2011, The American Alliance of Healthcare providers (AAHCP) awarded the Steptoe Group the Choice Award for Excellence in a Medical Specialty. This video is a recap of the event with an interview with Ronald Steptoe, CEO of the Steptoe Group.

Shot and edited Damone Brown of Grace Lens Multimedia.

If you want to know more, invest or help in some way…you know how to reach us.

HAPPY 84th BIRTHDAY GRANDMA WILLIE

2011-11-05T18:42:00.001-04:00

The Queen Grandmother celebrated her 84th Birthday with her Granddaughters Empress Lisa & Lady Laura AND her Great-Granddaughters Princess Erin, Charlee & Cara.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GMA!

Not So Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-02T20:58:00.001-04:00

I LOVE this season…and to while working on sharpening my mixology skills, I discovered the most awesome season liquor – Fulton’s Harvest Pumpkin Pie Cream Liqueur. OMG!!!!

For you Mixology envy pleasure, may I present the

PUMPKIN MUDSLIDE --

Equal parts Fulton’s Harvest, Vanilla Vodka & Kahlua. Pour over ice. Heaven in a glass.

Fulton’s Harvest is a seasonal item. GET IT NOW. GET IT IF YOU SEE IT. Bring it to my house and let me mix for you…or just bring as a hostess gift to my next soiree.

Caption This!

2011-10-31T09:00:00.000-04:00

Prince Jordan & Lady Camille Halloween 1995 or 96.

I laugh every time I look at this picture. The relationship dynamics are the same at any age. LOVE THIS!

What do you say?

Just For Me

2011-10-30T22:16:00.001-04:00

I am asked all the time…”Why do you do all of this? Are you crazy or something?” Well, I may be a tad crazy, but there is a method to my madness. The reason that comes to mind every time is I do if JUST FOR ME. Every medal, every accomplishment, every mile is MINE. I did that.

I do it for me.

You see, a long time ago I married a man who had (still does) ambition, vision & dreams. He had a plan for our family and we agreed that he would lead us there – his career/business ventures would be put first and I would support him and do what what necessary to keep us True North. The FireMarshall Empire is doing pretty good – despite the challenges, risks, hills & valleys. To sum it up, I am to The FireMarshall what Pepper Potts is to Tony Starks…and that’s fine – it works for us. Sometimes, though, I want to be the star. I want something – to do something – that is my very own.

I don’t know if that make any sense to ya’ll, but after I finished my first triathlon (even though I swore I’d never do that again) I felt exhilarated, POWERFUL, a sense of accomplishment & success that was indescribable…and it was MINE.

I do it JUST FOR ME.

This year has been a wonderful year of challenges, growth & personal success. It has kept me sane though one of the most trying year(s) of our lives. 12 months. 10 races.

2 – 10 Milers, 1-10k, 1- Triathlon Relay(Bike), 5-Triathlons, 1-Century ride. Whew, Chile. I put together a little slide show of the journey --

A Year in The Wide World of TravelDiva Sports

Is there anything you do JUST FOR YOU?

Is Anybody There?

2011-10-26T22:38:00.001-04:00

I blog cause I want to. It is my virtual diary of my life and sometimes what I think about the surrounding drama. I live my (or rather our) life out loud as the FireMarshall is always saying.

At first, I didn’t care that I didn’t get very many comments…and then, as I started writing more and more….I did care. Every blogger wants comments – we want to interact with our audience. How do I know I even have an audience? Well, there are the stats (page views, time on site, etc.) and then there are all the people I run into that tell me they read along. We not only want to write it down but we want to discuss it too.

I started to get some comments and things were growing and we were having a good ole time. Then I went and got all damn fancy and tried to “upgrade” my commenting features to Haloscan from the blogger commenting. That worked all fine and dandy…until Haloscan switched to JS-Kit which promptly got ate up by Echo…and then it went all to hell. Echo got all uppity and decided that the commenting features were no longer going to be free – even basic, little ole me free commenting – yeah, fork over $10/month for the service period and we might just let you keep all your past comments. HUMPH.

I stuck with the Haloscan/Echo Free commenting for a LONG ASS while before I realized that because I wasn’t paying up, free wasn’t really free. Free meant commenting features were sporadic if they worked AT ALL. In other words, nobody could comment – EVER. I started hearing from friends that they couldn’t comment so they just left a message on FB or something. I started to investigate. Now, I don’t know nuttin about how this shyat works really. Just give me the damn code, tell me where to cut and past and wham. Done. I went to every computer in the house – I wasn’t able to comment. DAG NABIT. Then I went on a mission “just switch back on Blogger commenting”.

Not so damn easy. Not so damn fast. Whoa partner.

I spent the better part of the afternoon using Mr. Google to figure out how to remove the JSKit/Haloscan code and how to restore Blogger. After crashing my template XML code (I don’t know what I just said, but crash my blog it did – thank God I backed my template up) I simply reverted “widget templates to default” and it was DONE. I had to put back in the code for my signature & for the label cloud, but everything else stayed the same.

While I lost ALL of my old comments…FUGG YOU ECHO…it was worth it. You suck. Your overpriced service with no service SUCKS. Goodbye.

If you have been following along all this time and haven’t been commenting cause ECHO SUCKS BIG TIME, I hope you will come back by and talk with me.

Welcome. Let the normal crazy recommence.

Testing

2011-10-26T17:33:00.001-04:00

Had to change some things back. SIGH. JS-Kit/Echo Commenting SUCKED

The Great Pumpkin

2011-10-24T23:51:00.001-04:00

This past weekend, the Royal Court took Princess Cara out in search of The Great Pumpkin. We went off to Sharps Farm, petting some animals, looked at the corn maze from the outside (I wasn’t walking out there in that mess…it was HUGE), went on a hayride out to the acres of pumpkins and then searched for the perfect one(s).

After selecting our pumpkins, we had to load them back onto the hay ride tractor and then load them into a cart for weighing. Yeah those suckers were .49/lb. The 3 I paid for were each $13+. Heavy suckers.

After the farm, we rode over the river & through the woods back to civilization and went to a “Fall Festival” where we promptly got Princess Cara & her friend Lady Nichcelle zooted on sugary sweets and whatnot. Yeah, so. We brushed our teeth later.

Tonight, we commenced on The Great Pumpkin Carving Project which required two sets of pumpkin cutting tools – one that was like a mini motorized saw – a butcher knife, a couple of serrated blades and big scooping spoons.

…AND this was the final results of tonight’s efforts….

THE GREAT PUMPKIN LIVES!

Do you carve up your pumpkins all elaborate like?

Wordless Wednesday: This Way For 100 Miles

2011-10-19T21:47:00.001-04:00

Sea Gull Century Wind Tunnel Experience

2011-10-16T22:49:00.001-04:00

Saturday, several thousand people met up to do the Sea Gull Century Ride in Salisbury, MD including me and a few other people that temporarily lost their damn minds…although being crazy together made the cycling of 100 miles madness all the better.

This had to be one of the most challenging rides I have EVER done. The wind was BEASTLY! We went from ranging 15-20mph over the first 40 miles to being blown down to 6-8 mph at times over the rest of the course. The last 40 had to be the ABSOLUTE WORST. It felt like we were going uphill for 40 miles. PERIOD. Simply put…

We got Byotch Slapped by the Wind. HARD.

The scenery was beautiful. The camaraderie was fantastic. I would have not made it if it was for the hugs, the encouragement, and Maddy’s back wheel pulling me along those last few miles…I was feeling mighty low…I was feeling real bad…and then I saw Maddy…and I KNOWED DER WAS A GAWD!!!

Key Learnings:

Booty Butter IS your friend. Apply often.
So isn’t Motrin & Biofreeze
More Padding. MORE
Figure out how to keep up with a pace line.
Strength training. STAT
There is a huge difference between racing in a Triathlon & riding with large groups of people.
The orange slices…manna from heaven. Fig Newtons too!
Oh, and that chick that thought it was cute to be snarky about my motivational sign on my bike…BITE ME!

I mounted a camera on my bike and was able to get some video during the ride. Enjoy!

Army 10 Miler–After Action Report

2011-10-12T22:43:00.001-04:00

Despite the fact that I felt TOTALLY unprepared to make a respectable showing at this race – I WILL NEVER QUIT! I over committed myself this season and in a hail mary effort to improve my swim ability (not drown from fear & panic) and to learn to ride Diva Dawes in clips without busting my ass, I sacrificed my running. The most distance I put in was 6 miles during my last tri. Shame on me and this was the result.

The very idea that I was running for 2 damn hours and that the winners were done for over an hour already is just demoralizing…but I WILL NEVER QUIT!

The best part…~~suffering~~ running with my TOP MAFIA – Ms.Pattey. Adding to the awesome was having my Tri buddy (TriBecca) with me to run in that last 2 miles from hell – WAS IT EVER GOING TO END - and seeing GBaby, Pier and Cassandra out there cheering us on. Ya’ll don’t know how much it means to hear your name called, to hear personal encouragement from your friends/family out on the course. It is one of the only things that can make the difference between giving up and pushing on. THANK YOU!

I love this race, but this year they changed the Finish/Start and it was the biggest Charlie Foxtrot ON THE PLANET. Who thought it was brilliant to make the finish area a 1/2mile long narrow chute and make everyone walk that far to get some water? Who came up with the azz backward plan to make it so that spectators could barely get near a damn thing with all those damn barriers up? Who thought that nobody would start climbing the concrete barriers so that they didn’t have to walk 5 miles back to the Pentagon Metro or the Mall to get to their transportation? Who was the smart organizer that made it damn near impossible to find a medic/medic tent…what? there was only ONE in the entire South parking lot BACK near the finish line.

For real doh?

At the end of the race, everything was spread out so damn far, too difficult to find that we just gave up trying to find the HOOAAH tent, the good food, the good goodies. We grabbed our Finishers Coin and hobbled a gazillion miles & over 2 concrete dividers to get to the metro.

We came – We Ran – We got the Bling. BOOYAH!!!

Beautiful course. Great Race. Fugged up Finish Area. (MOVE THAT ISH BACK INTO NORTH PARKING – Y’ALL SUCKED THIS YEAR). I had a great time.

After seeing the FANTABULOUS SPARKLY DIVAISH BLING that the Disney races give out, MsPattey and I are looking at doing the Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon at Disney Orlando next year…I want that bling baby.

Watch out for me. I might just whip out my coin on you – BAAM! You got one of these? No. What you do this past weekend?

RUN ARMY HOOAH!!!!!!

Your Man Reminder

2011-10-12T20:33:00.001-04:00

If this can’t get you to give your breasts some TLC then I don’t know what can! Hilarious. Enjoy and Rethink Breast Cancer…download the app and choose your man to remind you to get some breast TLC.

Grown Women Gone Wild–Part 2

2011-10-10T23:02:00.001-04:00

Remember the first Top Mafia, BFF Weekend? Check it out…I’ll wait.

Okay…Well, one of my TOP MAFIA – my HandyHOTness partner in crime – came in to town to run the Army 10 Miler with me. Another weekend with my friend and I feel like I need a kidney transplant from laughing so damn hard –CONSTANTLY!

Another weekend of hilarious moments…

Yes, you CAN be run over by your own Segway.
“OPG” does NOT stand for “Old People Grovin’”…it stands for Original Pretty Girls. Seriously!
Friends don’t let friends take pictures with a cow.
“How long it take you to get here on the bus? 20 hours?”
You really haven’t cursed anyone out until you spit a “FUGG YOU” at someone from deep down in the gut. FUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGG YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!
You know how you recover from the humiliation & embarrassment of taking a picture with a COW?…You braid your BFF’s hair so hard & tight for 2 hours until she has a migraine. Muuwaaaahhh!!!

Ms.Pattey came in on Thursday and did a tour of the Pentagon and 9-11 Memorial with a friend from high school. On Friday, we did a City Segway Tour of DC that was an absolute BLAST. My only advice if you ever do a tour on a Segway…wear a pair of shoes that you could stand still in for 3 hours.

Yes, you are moving along at 10mph (for the most part), but you are essentially standing in place – in the same position for 3 hours. My feet were screaming. I can’t even imagine how the girl wearing heels on the tour was feeling by the end. DUMB.

After the tour, we were in great need of sustenance and stumbled upon Cuba Libre on 9th St. DELICOUS!!! Both the food & the adult beverages.

After we were sated, we hopped back on the Metro and went to pick up our race packets for the Army 10 Miler. We probably spent WAAAAY too much time checking out all the vendors & spent WAAAAY too much money…AND took a picture with a cow instead of a cheetah (I’m still traumatized) but a good time was had by all.

We hooked up with TriBecca at the expo and she was kind enough to drive us up to Howard University so we could make our last stop on our Friday adventure. Rankin Chapel to see the AKA Founders Stained Glass Window. What a treat! As beautiful as I knew it would be.

All of that was just Friday…Saturday was a blur of shopping, eating, shopping and laughing. Sunday was the Army 10 Miler (race report will be up later).

We had a wonderful weekend. I love all the different adventures I go on with my Top Mafia! Just the best group of friends – EVER. I think we have mastered that Recipe for Friendship.

I hope you have tried that recipe. It is great for the soul.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

Prince Jordan & Lady Camille

Why I Tri–Reason #221

2011-10-04T22:21:00.001-04:00

…and it WILL happen. Me and my Tri ~~victims~~ friends will be able to out swim, bike & run any zombie that even thinks to chase us to for a meal or bite us to make us part of the zombie clan. Better yet, I personally have the skill set to swim, bike, run AND shoot & stab at the same time. I’m a good person to have on the Zombie killing team.

Zombies got nuttin’ on me!

Why do you Tri?

Ride 60

2011-10-03T22:27:00.001-04:00

This past Sunday a bunch of us that signed up for the Seagull Century Ride wanted to get in some mileage in preparation. Since all of us except our fearless Ironman Leader had never done 100 miles before, we thought it was a pretty good idea to try and do 50-60 miles before the race. Uh Huh.

Our (TriUnify’s) resident Ironman, TarusN lead us on our 60 mile trek. It was cold (about 60) with wind and drizzling rain. WE SUCKED IT UP AND DROVE ON. If it ain’t raining, you ain’t training. HOO AAAHH! We had to get it in. However, I want you to know that Tarus ~~lies~~ embellishes the truth. He SAID that there were only a few “rolling” hills, nothing too tough. ~~Lies from the pits of hell~~. A slight misrepresentation of reality. There were SEVERAL hills that made all of us curse & cry at the same time. It was RE-DAMN-DICULOUS.

We did it! No man/woman was left behind. We practiced pace lines and grabbed tips and tricks from each other. Our group was BEASTLY…especially Maddy (the pretty lady in pink). She was the epitome of perseverance and determination…a lesson & inspiration to us all.

Stay tuned for Tales of the Century.

Soulful Sunday–Mom, Me & NYC

2011-10-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

I spent a wonderful day in September with my mother, The Queen Mum, in NYC at an outdoor concert on the Great Lawn, Central Park, New York City to see Andrea Bocelli. We stood, we talked, we walked, we made friends, we laughed, we got wet & we shivered…Another wonderful time with my mother.

My Sister’s Birthday

2011-10-01T22:26:00.001-04:00

Today was my Sister’s Birthday and it was also a day of not taking things for granted. What did she want to do for her birthday? Have her hair did, nails did, everything did…she wanted to be “fancy”…she wanted to do something she had NEVER DONE IN HER LIFE. Then she said to me…”I want to look pretty like you.”

I was floored. Speechless. Yes, my sister has had a HARD (of her own making) life. I’m not even going to outline the gruesome details. Suffice it to say that I wouldn’t wish that existence on my worst enemy. However, a day finally came when she hit rock bottom (her perception of the bottom – not mine, cause my idea of rock bottom was years ago) and she asked to come home. Almost a year later and I’m cautiously optimistic.

This week I was just floored by her birthday request…today we made it happen.

Hair Did – she wanted it braided…here is my own personal masterpiece:

Nails Did -

We then went shopping. We got her own makeup (STAY OFF MY VANITY NOW!!!), ordered dinner & I made Sparkling Sidecars.

I hope you had a wonderful birthday, Laura. I hope you feel “pretty” as you always were & are.

One of Us–GO ARMY!

2011-09-25T18:09:00.001-04:00

Last weekend, The FireMarshall and I went up to West Point to attend the Army Athletic Hall of Fame Induction in support of one of his teammates, Randy Cozzens, that was getting inducted. We also got a chance to attend a home football game ( I AM THE 12th MAN) and watch it in style with some guys from the Class of 79. The Hall of Fame banquet was just lovely; however, what was even more impressive & moving was all of the basketball players that came back to support Randy & Head Coach Spiker. Coach Spiker is doing wonderful things with the basketball team and in bringing back the “old” to mentor the “new”…I think he has found a winning formula. I love one of his motto’s : West Point Basketball – One of Us.

I too felt like one of them…I was there for 4 years of Army Basketball. I went where the team went – every trip section I could get on – every home game. The team sponsors/coaches were mine too – as I was always where Ron was. I might not have played, but I felt like I was part of the team and they always made me feel that way.

One of Us.

There is 33 years of Army Basketball represented above. How awesome is that? What a real treat it was to have GEN Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff toss up the ball to get the game stated at the 1st Annual Alumni Basketball Game. Them old boys still had it, albeit, slower.

I turned out to be the team photographer for the weekend and managed to turn around this video from the Banquet & Alumni Game…ONE OF US!

West Point Basketball–ONE OF US

Ron and I are committed to get up there and support the Basketball team when ever we can because we are ONE OF THEM!

As for the rest of the weekend…it was an AWESOME FOOTBALL GAME! as we won a tough game against Northwestern. I am COMPLETELY ruined for watching a home game anywhere other than this group of 79 grads skybox. Scotch, cigars, great food & the best view in the stadium overlooking the entire field – dead centered on the 50 yard line…I was in GO ARMY FOOTBALL HEAVEN! (…and this group are Steeler Fans too! SHEEEEYT – HEAVEN)

This is what I call the LONG GREY LINE!!! Their hospitality was top notch and Ron & I pulled K-P duty so we could get an invite back.

Awesome weekend all around.

What’s it like for you with your Alma Mater? Are you a crazy “Stan” (stalker fan) for your teams/school like me?

GO ARMY! BEAT THE HELL OUTTA NAVY! – Someday, again. The 12th man lives in me!

A Matter of National Pride

2011-09-23T13:43:00.001-04:00

A Matter of National Pride - Nation's Triathlon 2011 from GraceLens Multimedia on Vimeo.

Wonderful Video showing the spirit at The Nation’s Triathlon 2011. Must See.

GIVEAWAY: Do The Swap

2011-09-22T00:04:00.001-04:00

Small changes can make a big difference over time. It just takes commitment. Pick something – set a goal – write it down and then get started. However, sometimes that goal looks so big that we get discouraged and our goal falls by the wayside.

Small changes can make a big difference over time. How do you eat an elephant…one spoonful at a time. How do you sell 100 dresses…1 dress at a time. How do you lose 50lbs…one 1-2 lbs/wk (or more) over time.

Break it down into manageable pieces and get started.

…and Yoplait Light has created the "Yoplait Light Swap" to remind people that by making simple substitutions, like swapping one item from your diet per day for a 100 or 110 calorie Yoplait Light, you can cut unwanted calories and help yourself feel great about daily diet choices. Through swapping tips for food, fitness, and fashion, the "Yoplait Light Swap" can help remind you how rewarding one simple change can be.

Small changes over time will get you to the Big Goal faster than you know it.

Yoplait Light yogurt offers 33 different options to choose from in fruit, pastry and dessert flavors that contain around 100 calories or less, providing endless swapping options.

Visit www.Facebook.com/Yoplait to share your favorite food, exercise and fashion swaps, find recipes and quizzes. Alison Sweeney, host of "The Biggest Loser" and author of The Mommy Diet, offers this Top Swap Tip on how she maintains her weight with a hectic schedule.
- "I'm all about easy solutions, and making simple swaps in my diet helps me lead a healthy lifestyle while juggling everything else. I swap a slice of my favorite red velvet cake after dinner for a cup of Red Velvet Cake Yoplait Light which can save me almost 300 calories, without even thinking about it."
Swap your way to fabulous with the following tips from fashion guru, host of the Style Network's "How Do I Look?" and correspondent for NBC's upcoming series "Fashion Star," Jeannie Mai.

Swap the bus for a 15 minute walk on the way home, and you can save 60 calories.¹
Boost your confidence in seconds by swapping more low-key flats for a pair of colorful heels.
Expand your wardrobe without breaking the bank by swapping clothes and accessories with your girlfriends. (I don’t know about this one…I ain’t sharing none of my stuff wit ya’ll – HUMPH – but you get the idea)

You can visit http://bit.ly/yoplaitswapcoupon to download a printable coupon* for $1.00 off the purchase of three (3) cups of Yoplait Light yogurt to get you started with the "Yoplait Light Swap" today!

Why wait till New Years to make a Small Change to get you to that Big Goal? How about you get started now? To help you get started, I’m offering up Do the Swap Yoplait Light Prize Pack.

The giveaway winner's prize pack will contain:
(1) VIP coupon for a free cup of Yoplait Light yogurt
Insulated tote bag
Water bottle
Sunglass holder
Hardcover planner
Ballpoint pen

Wanna make the swap? All you have to do to get an entry is to LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE BLOG – LIKE RIGHT HERE! Just tell me what your Big Goal is and what Small Change your going to make to move closer to achieving it. Don’t wanna go to confessional, then leave a comment about your favorite Yoplait flavor – there are 33 ya know.

Contest runs until Monday and I’ll pick a winner on Tuesday. Easy Peesy!

"Disclosure: The Yoplait Light Swap prize pack, information and coupon have been provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark."

*This coupon offer for Yoplait Light yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee.

I can do Triathlons but KICKBALL kicked my ass!

2011-09-21T19:47:00.001-04:00

I was at a two day sales meeting starting this past Monday and our mandatory fun teambuilding event was…wait for it…Kickball. Seriously. Oh ok. Well, when it comes to competition – especially on the friendly fields of strife – this here Diva…

PLAYS TO WIN!

My team was in it to win it. We played like this was an all star game & money was involved. Here’s what I quickly found out…what my body was quick to remind me –I’m built for distance not for short bursts.

Here’s what the conversation that went on between my mind & body. (The mind was willing…the body was weak) “Hey, playa, whacha doin’? We been training for the long haul – endurance, distance – spreading out pain & suffering over hours, not seconds. Slow your roll, girl or we gonna tell ya bout yo azz in a day or two.”

I shrugged it off and tried to keep my game up – see, I’m an “Elite Athlete”. Bwaaahaahaahaa.

I was ~~running~~ sprinting around those bases like I stolt something. I kicked that ball like Wonder Woman had just lost her berserker bracelets. And TODAY – two days later – I can barely walk.

I went for what was supposed to be a 3-4 mile run today and my legs felt like I had just got off of my bike after riding my bike for 50 miles at 19 mph. LEAD BRICKS. That run turned into a 2 mile shuffle/walk. DA HELL!

I can do a friggin triathlon, run 6 miles after a swim & bike and not feel like I did today after play 7 innings of some damn KICKBALL.

All I know is that I better suck down some Motrin, get in a couple of Bikram Yoga classes and stick to what I know before I end up in damn traction. I don’t have fast twitch muscles anymore!

The other thing I know is I better get my act together before the Army 10 miler in a few weeks. I’ll be damned if I end up on the sweeper bus – AKA – The Bus of Shame. I can skip faster than my shameful post kickball performance today. SMDH.

I can do a damn Triathlon…but some KICKBALL kicked my ass. DAMN SHAME.

Race Photo Contest

2011-09-20T19:06:00.001-04:00

Remember this photo my mother took of me swimming at the Musselman Triathlon? Looks like I’m just cruising along, huh. NOT. I was trying my best to make a comeback from the swim debacle at the Philly Tri where it took nearly 40 min of huffing puffing and doing every other stroke (including the doggie paddle) to get the hell out of the water. At this one I was taking my time and chanting “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming, swimming….” the whole way.

Well, I entered this photo in the TriSports.com Photo Contest. The prize is a nice cycling kit (jersey, shorts etc) and in this VERY expensive sport that I have a mad addiction for…I really could use this.

Please help by clicking here ------->>>> PHOTO CONTEST. This will take you to the picture on the Book of the Face. Once there…click ‘LIKE’. I am WAAAAYYY behind the number one spot (121 likes). Your help is greatly appreciated.

Cooking W/Love: Mushroom Croque-Monsieur

2011-09-14T22:03:00.001-04:00

….or How to Make a Ham & Cheese Like a Parisian

The Queen Mum and I went to Paris in 2005 and one sunny day we climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower. At the top there is a café and we ordered a Croque-Monsieur and thought we had died and gone to heaven. When we speak of that trip we talk about the Bastille Day Parade in the rain, my insistence to climb to the top of EVERYTHING via the stairs, and the ham & cheese sandwich we had sitting on a bench at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

MEMORIES.

We have often talked about making those sandwiches but always felt that we might ruin the memory if we fugged up trying to reproduce the sandwich ourselves. …and THEN…Bon Appetit came out with an issue that had a section entitled “Croque Star”

Of the world’s great melted-cheese sandwiches, the French Croque-Monsieur is king. In this easy bistro menu, our version is elevated with mushrooms, a perfect mornay sauce, and just the right ham.

And they weren’t lying! OFF THE CHAIN DELICIOUS! We were in heaven tonight!

Putting the sandwiches together.

Spread the Mornay Sauce on Top ------------ Sprinkle on Mushroom/Shallot Mix

Sprinkle top w/Gruyere & Parmesan ------------ Bake in Oven

Nom…Nom…Nom…

Race Report: The Nation’s Triathlon

2011-09-12T23:33:00.001-04:00

A year ago, I did my first Triathlon…the Nation’s Triathlon. Why? I watched my friend Becca do the DC Tri (after learning to swim AND ride a bike) for her first – she picked a challenge and made it happen. Then that heffa with a Cheshire grin looked at me and said – HEY! Why don’t you do Nation’s with me. Your fit, you already know how to swim, come on! SUCKER!!! I’m such a sucker for this ish. Sure, I said…but I don’t have a bike and I’m not going to spend a lot on a bike if I’m not sure that I’ll do this again. Becca, grinning from ear to ear (you just have to see all of her pictures – she get’s you EVERY SINGLE TIME with that damn grin) said no worries…I have a friend that has an extra bike…and a triathlete was born.

I did it! I SWORE (even used curse words) I would NEVER do this again. EVER. FUGG NO! And then I made the mistake of hanging my race bling from my dresser mirror and putting my race times up on the mirror.

I looked at that mess EVERY DAY. I kept thinking, I could do better. I just need a better bike. I could do better, I just need to come up with a plan – get some experience…blah,blah. So, I did a bunch of research and bought me a road bike (that I could afford) and then – if you have been following along – the rest is history.

Sunday, I did the Nation’s Triathlon again and even though they cancelled the swim (a good thing) it was a FABULOUS race. I had a great time and I felt like a ROCK STAR at the end as I knocked off 40 min from my bike time & 9 min from my run time over last year. GTFOOH!!!!

I repeat…40 MINUTES OFF 2010’S BIKE TIME, 9 MIN OFF 2010’S RUN TIME.

Just call me an ELITE ATHLETE. LOL. I am in my own mind because despite my SIGNIFICANT PR over last year, I still brought up the very rear and wasn’t anywhere near the top of the pack in my age group. I WAS in the top 3 for the Tri Club Challenge – HA! – with only 3 registered for that challenge. O_0. LOL.

BIKE: We started the race in our swim corrals. Approx. 15 of us at one time ran into transition to get our bikes and off we went. I thought I was doing something on the course with an avg 16 mph pace. NAW. I wasn’t doing SHYT! People were buzzing past me like I was just out for an afternoon ride. DAMN, PLAYA! One day, when I grow up, I’ll get me a for real bike and some for real muscles and bang out a 20 mph pace without so much as breaking a sweat.

One day…

I still knocked off 40 MINUTES from last year. YEAH BABY!!!

RUN: Yeah, so I diddle daddled in transition. I sat down to put my shoes on and to slather my legs in biofreeze. That stuff is the damn BOMB! I don’t know what got into me, but I felt like I was bookin’ it considering I sacrificed running to work on my swimming, didn’t do ~~very many~~ any bricks, and a bunch of other excuses. I did just above an Airborne Shuffle and felt good about it.

It meant the WORLD to me to see The FireMarshall about 500 m before the finish line cheering me on. “Come on Army, keep that pace up, take it in.” He rocks.

I want to thank my friends TheHurt, Maddy and all those at the TriUnify booth that called my BY NAME and cheered me on. I was so happy to see KarenM, that beauty in the picture above to the left – keep up the good work. Thank you to all of my friends that support me around the world…I see you…I hear you and it is appreciated. And of course, thank you Rebecca for grinning me into this…I love it…and I’m going to “grinn” my BFF Pattey into a race. She won’t even know what happened till it’s over.

I AM A TRIATHLETE!!!

The Potomac Swim That Wasn’t

2011-09-10T23:36:00.001-04:00

Yeah, um, so, okay. I WAS a tad disappointed that they cancelled the swim for The Nation’s Triathlon tomorrow. It was going to be my “come full circle” triathlon and now it wasn’t going to happen. The Noah’s Ark type rain for 5 days straight right after a hurricane made the Potomac a tad “hazardous”…current' was outrageous, water conditions horrible, levels too high…blah, blah, blah.

Yeah, um, so, okay. Deal with it. Expensive Brick with Bling at the end. You can’t control natural disasters. Yet when I went down to rack my bike for the expensive brick workout w/bling, I just HAD to see what all the fuss was about and went down to where we would have entered the water at for a looksie.

Here is what I saw:

Yeah, um, so, okay….I ain’t even TRYING to swim in that shyt. I just KNOW there were some brain eating parasites in that mess right der.

Yeah, um, so , okay…Imma get on dat bike and ride da hell outta it, then run ( or at least pretend to) like I stole sumptin…collect my medal and carry my behind home.

The FireMarshall has already given me instructions on what the “some shyt done jumped off on the anniversary of 9/11” meeting point is. “If you get the bat signal, fugg the medal, and book it to the meeting point on the map."

I told him that you were not supposed to have your cell on you – 2 min penalty and shyt. I AND the race officials were promptly cussed the fugg out – “So take a penalty if they catch you – take 2 – but you carrying that damn phone, woman, hear!!?”

Yeah, um, so, okay. Imma do as The FireMarshall says. Safety and jump off info is a priority in his book.

This should be interesting.

2011 Cheering Section Info–Nation’s Triathlon

2011-09-07T14:00:00.000-04:00

Friends & Family

On Sunday, September 11th, I will participating in The Nation’s Triathlon – doing the same race again where this Tri Journey all began. It would be an honor if you could come out and cheer me and several members of TriUnify (Rian, Maddy, Rebecca & a few more I can’t remember all of us) on.

If you can make it out this Sunday to cheer us on, the course map and some recommendations or parking or taking the metro is included above. If you would like me to forward the image and stuff to you for better viewing, drop me a line via email (wpdiva87@clear.net) or comment (you will have to include your email) and I will get it to you.

My Bib # and Swim Start Time is as follows:
Bib #: 4246
Swim Start Time RANGE???: Wave #25 7:45-8:30 (SERIOUSLY? DA HELL)

If you arrive by metro or car by 7:00am you should have enough time to get to the swim start area by the time I enter the water.

Here are some other tips:
1. If you can take the metro, the closest to the start is at GW Hospital (walk down 23rd, across Constitution, around the Lincoln Memorial to the Start) OR the Arlington Cemetery Station (walk across the Arlington Memorial Bridge and hook a right to Ohio St to the Start).
2. Bring a portable chair
3. Bring a small cooler for snacks/drinks although there are plenty of places to get something along the way.
4. Bring camera/video…help us get some pictures for posterity

To learn more about the race…go to http://www.nationstri.com/

I hope to see you there!

My Triathlete Journey–Coming Full Circle

2011-09-07T12:08:00.001-04:00

Remember this….The TravelDiva is a Triathlete!

The TravelDiva is a Triathlete

Well, on Sunday, September 11th, 2011 - I will bring this journey full circle as I participate in The Nation’s Triathlon AGAIN. Since I did my first triathlon on Sept 12th of 2010 I’ve been very busy…

The Nation’s Triathlon – Sept 12th, 2010

Navy 5 Miler – Sept 2010

Army 10 Miler – Oct 2010

Cherry Blossom 10 Miler – April 2011

PeasantMan Tri – May 2011

Annapolis 10K – June 2011

Philly Triathlon – June 2011

Mussleman Tri – July 2011

Iron Girl – Aug 2011

The Nation’s Triathlon – Sept 11th 2011

Navy 5 Miler – Sept 25th 2011

Army 10 Miler – October 9th 2011

Am I really all that faster….mmmm…here & there. Doing too much….mmmm…yeah, probably. Tired, burnt out on “training”…mmmm…certainly. Would I do it all again?

ABSOLUTELY. I am fit. I am fierce. I am FABULOUS!

…AND I have better looking gear & outfits.

I am wiser & stronger – “can’t” is just not part of my vocabulary – the question is HOW?!

My goal for 2012 is to do an EagleMan 70.3 – on to the next challenge. I plan on being much more strategic in training and choosing races in preparation for an Eagle. Maybe – maybe not. I just might throw in some more races because I’m am GOING to get MsPattey in the water and I AM going to do that race (whatever it is) with her. I also plan on doing another race with Nineteen69 in 2012 cause we gonna be swimming like dolphins!!. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. I do what I want and try and drag my BFF’s along with me (The suffering, beatings & training schedule WILL NOT STOP until everyone has several pieces of RACE BLING)

I may not be Speedy Gonzales. I may never stand on a podium as a top finisher in my age group…maybe when I get into the 60’s age category. What I am is a girl that just went out and DID THE DAMN THING!…and am having a blast doing it.

Why do I Tri? I have a lot of reasons, but when Princess Cara looks at me at the end of the race with my race bling around my neck and says…”Wow, mommy! You are a winner!” I need nothing else.

Prince Jordan is 20 Years Old!

2011-09-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Happy 20th Birthday

Prince Jordan, Heir to the Empire, Protector of the Realm is celebrating his 20th Birthday today! OMG!!!! Where did the time go? When did he get all grownt up on me?

My BAAAAAAABBBBBEEEEEEEE is a MAN! Good thing…we need a few good future Lords around these parts cause…WINTER IS COMING!!! and male bytchassedness is spreading like the plague.

THE PRINCE IS 20 YEARS OLD…TODAY!!!

Happy Birthday, my son. I hope you are having a rockin’ time!

Wordless Wednesday–1st Day of 2nd Grade

2011-08-31T21:34:00.001-04:00

TOTAL Immersion

2011-08-30T22:43:00.001-04:00

Sold. Hook – Line – Sinker. This is the ticket. Total Immersion Swimming or to me…swim like a dolphin & glide. I said in my last post that I didn’t feel that there was really anything more I could do in the next 3-4 weeks before The Nation’s Triathlon to make any improvements – the gist of it was – just survive to tell the tale & hope somebody comes and takes pictures to prove it.

Well, then I got to dishing on the phone with Nineteen69 about this triathlon business and how we could improve on our swim. She had been looking into this concept of Total Immersion Swimming and looking for a coach. She hipped me to some video clips from the inventor of the Total Immersion Swimming technique - Terry Laughlin – and I was immediately impressed. I watched over an hour of a seminar he gave at MIT on the technique, made them a favorite on my iphone (Youtube app), watched 2 clips again at my gym and decided to give it a try.

As my soror and fellow triathlete, Roz would say – LIFE CHANGING!

Did I master the technique by watching over an hour of video? NO. But I changed my whole way of swimming and did my best to imitate the stroke, relaxation, hand position and NO KICKING and I felt like I was slicing through the water effortlessly. I did 70 laps – 1750 meters - pretty much NON-STOP – and was not winded.

He had me at the 20th lap w/o stopping. SOLD. DONE. Put a fork in me.

I’m getting that 10 DVD set (and will work the drills over the HA! – “off season”) and then my Philly Tri Soror’s and I are gonna get us that coach and over a girls weekend we are gonna become the dolphin. GLIDE!

I going to watch his seminar over and over for the next two weeks before I go to the pool and get my laps in. I’m hoping to do an open water swim the next two Thursday’s with MidMdTri Club and work it some more.

Fellow Triathletes Unite – Total Immersion Swimming – Become the Dolphin & Glide.

Biting off More Than I Can Chew

2011-08-26T18:36:00.001-04:00

I’ve been wondering…feeling some kinda way since Iron Girl last Sunday that…well, maybe, I’ve bitten off more than I can chew this season with all of the races I signed up for and my work/family/life schedule. I actually contemplated blowing off Nations and then promptly remembered how much the registration was for that sucker and I don’t know about ya’ll…but I ain’t got it like that to just toss out the wind.

NO SIR REE!

So, what’s an plump, tired, undertrained, over nourished, professional drinker triathlete supposed to do…

Yep, CHEW THE DAMN THING! It’s time to dig deep, get fierce and do what I can do in the time that I have. I had to come to the realization that I will not be standing on any podiums this year (or probably next) but I CAN collect some great bling, cross the finish line on my own power and be all that I can be – HOOAH!

I could do all these wonderful things…get a trainer, a sports nutritionist, stop drinking (THAT’S NOT GONNA HAPPEN – maybe cut back – MAYBE), close my mouth…but in the next 4 weeks…none of that is going to change a damn thing. I bit off a big ole hunk of triathlon whoop ass and now I’m gonna CHEW IT!

DAMN SKIPPY!

I have all my race bling (from the races I GOT bling from – can you tell I’m still bitter about getting NOTHING from MussleMan?) hanging from my dresser mirror. I look at it every day and it is a great reminder that – YES, I CAN!

Here’s the schedule for the rest of the “season”:

Sept 11 – Nation’s Triathlon

Sept 25th – Navy 5 Miler

Oct 9th – Army 10 Miler

WHEW!

Tomorrow…30 mile ride followed by 30 min run. Yep. Yep

So, what do you do when you bite off more than you can chew? CHEW IT! Quit is NOT in my vocabulary.

The Boys of Bayer Street

2011-08-24T19:50:00.001-04:00

This picture brought me joy! Jordan & 2 of his lacrosse teammates are living off campus this year in this awesome house. Today was the 1st day of their Junior academic year. Looking good.

Race Report: Iron Girl Columbia

2011-08-22T23:49:00.000-04:00

Sunday was the Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon – an all women Sprint+ Triathlon. What are the few things about this race and my tri-season that come first to mind from this race:

I am consistent. Consistently slow…just above frozen molasses
I have work to do, Lucy
Whatever…I AM AN IRON GIRL!!!

and I have the BLING to show for the effort.

So, that goal I had of 2 hours or less…yeah, well, um, er…what had happened was…I’m just slow. PERIOD. And whoever that sinister psychopath is that created the Iron Girl Course (particularly the bike & run course) is probably best friends with Hannibal Lecter and needs to be taken down. JUST WRONG is all I can muster up to say about that crazy course creator mofo. HUMPH.

The Iron Girl Columbia course was one kinda hella hard. I know they put little mountain icon’s on the maps where there was a “big” hill. I think they left some off the map. For real doh. JUST WRONG.

So here is a recap of the past 3 months…the past 3 races:

Philly Tri MussleMan Iron Girl

Swim (850m) 37:30 Swim (750m) 23:48 Swim (998m) 34:15

Bike (15.7mi) 1:05:59 Bike (16.2mi) 1:07:06 Bike (17.5mi) 1:30:26

Run (3.2mi) 39:23 Run (3.2mi) 41:00 Run (3.3mi) 48.07

Final 2:32:28 Final 2:20:08 Final 2:53:40

When I first saw my results I was all depresses and feeling pitiful. I wasn’t dead last but I was pulling up the rear STILL. Then when I compared these times, reflected on how challenging the course was…well…not too shabby for an overweight lover in da house. Yeah, I’m a work in progress.

Despite my sniveling about the course – this was probably the most rewarding. EVERYONE was so encouraging & supportive. There were women of all shapes, sizes, colors – some with all of their limbs – some not. It was just so amazing.

I arrived at the park with the Queen Mother (My Personal Paparazzi) and Princess Erin in tow and as soon as they find their way around it starts to POUR down rain. That picture above looks like we just got out of the water. NOPE. We were just standing in the rain – 15 min race delay. Safety First.

SWIM: What is there to say? To me the swim is a mind game…and it messes with me EVERY SINGLE TIME. The 15 min delay and the fact that we didn’t get into the water until a little after 8 am (after being in the park since 6am) didn’t have anything to do with nerves, heart racing or anything. I felt calm getting into the water, but once I got out there and started swimming…well…I felt tired & winded. I just couldn’t get a rhythm going. I just swam buoy to buoy, resting when I needed to with a side stroke and then started again. Will there EVER be a day when I can do this thing in 17 min like the gazelle in my age group that came out of the water first? No matter. I got out without the need of assistance…but I didn’t look too happy about it. Funny – I never do.

Bike: Tough. Hilly. Mountainous. But I never got off the bike to walk it up a hill. Sheer determination and the fact that I had trained on the course so much that I knew what to expect was what got me through. I really thought I was bookin’ it but then you see pace times IN MY AGE GROUP of 20mph and I’m like WHAT THE HECK?! Will there be a day that I’m cooking it on the bike like that? Is it me or is it the bike? Hmmmm….

Run: Sweet Baby Jesus! Whoever came up with the idea to put a mountain at the 1.4 mile mark to run up, down and then up again was on that pipe or just plain mean. That run was no joke. There was a LOT of walking out there on the course (especially on that hill) and I was one of those walkers. HUMPH. That was just hateful. When I had about a half mile left, I was feeling might low…I was feeling real bad. But then I looked up and there was Jerrold & his son Gabriel yelling for me and pushing me on…that’s when I knew there was a GAWD. I took it on in and finished strong…in my mind.

Thank you to all of you that came out to cheer us on (Robin, Kenneth, Jerrold, Mom, Erin…I’m sorry if I forgot you). This was one of the most spectacular & awesome spectator crowd ever.

I AM AN IRON GIRL!!!! I AM A TRIATHLETE!!!

How Time Flies

2011-08-22T22:00:00.001-04:00

Prince Jordan, Heir to the Empire, Protector of the Realm went back to college this weekend. SIGH.

He’s a JUNIOR…IN COLLEGE!!! Where did the time go?

He’s living off campus this year. SIGH. In a house with 2 of his Lax Bro’s (yeah, I’m using his terminology). Letting go and cutting the apron strings gets harder and harder each year. SIGH.

At least I didn’t do the ugly wall slide sobbing cry…that will come later as I start getting the bills.

SIGH.

I bet the parties are gonna be AWESOME!!!!

Get Busy Living

2011-08-13T14:52:00.001-04:00

The recent death of a woman competing in the NYC Triathlon (read – Coping With A Swimmers Sudden Death) has been weighing heavy on my mind. Not because she died doing something she loved – clearly she did from the article – but because of the reaction to it. I started reading a lot of people saying stuff like “Well, maybe I shouldn’t do this (triathlon) because it’s dangerous”, “I’m really scared now of the swim, I didn’t realize that it could kill you.”, “I was fine until I read about this, perhaps I should pull out of the race.” and more with a similar theme.

Really? So let’s take that logic and carry it further/apply it to other things in our lives:

According to the CDC, 1400 people out of 100,000 die each year in a car accident. You have a 1.4% chance of dying on your way to doing whatever you are doing. Should you stop driving or stop going to work – it’s dangerous.
People have been know to have a heart attack & die after chex – should you consider abstinence since you could possibly die?
Although the stats on air/water/space travel deaths is lower – only about 100 out of 100,000 die each year using other forms of transport – should you forgo that bucket list of traveling to those dream spots because, well, you just might be that one person that crashes & burns?

I say NO! We know not the day or the time when God will call us home, so it comes down to a simple choice – Get busy living, or get busy dying.

I CHOSE TO LIVE – LIVE OUTLOUD – LIVE NOW!

If you aren’t going to apply the principle that because I might have a heart attack, I might crash & burn, I might die so I shouldn’t do it to everything in your life – then why are you applying it to completing that goal you set for yourself – Triathlon (or any other noteworthy accomplishment)? Don’t let that little voice – the negative, the doubtful, the fearful keep you on the sidelines. You will REGRET it and then possibly, even worse, you might just succumb to the woe is me syndrome and become one of those people that always chimes in with the negative, trying to steal another’s hopes & dreams nonsense. A Negative Nelly Misery Likes Company Person that NOBODY of any salt would want to be around.

Get busy living, or get busy dying.

I’m often afraid. I have doubt all the time. I chose to beat those thoughts back.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. ~Ambrose Redmoon

Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared. ~Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

My heart breaks that 2 people died during the NYC Triathlon swim portion of the race. I find solace in the fact that they were doing what they wanted to do, enjoying the moment and were living life. So, I keep swimming, I keep biking, I keep running, I keep cooking, traveling, building, achieving, learning, trying new things…

I’m getting busy LIVING…how about you?

Training Mind Madness

2011-08-10T22:25:00.001-04:00

I just wasn’t feeling it today, but I went out and started to ride. It had to be done. I needed the mileage and to keep the feeling of the route on my legs. I got out there on that Iron Girl route and right after tackling that gruesome 1st hill (Mt Albert) Mind Madness – that not so quiet voice at the end of the day - took over, found room and made themselves at home all up in my head:

Damn, this is going to be the hardest Tri yet with all these MFn’ hills.
Who was the Bastid that came up with these routes.
Damn, I don’t even get to start slowing down after this race…Nation’s Tri is Sept 11th followed by Navy 5 Miler and the Army 10 miler.
Damn, I’m tired.
I have got to come up with a plan to get my running up so I can slide into that 10 miler
I don’t wanna.
Damn, I’m tired.
I bet you there is some likka back at da house instead of this energy drink.
HUMPH. Fugg this shyt.
Look at those ~~Bytches~~ Iron Girls out here doing it. WHATEVER.
Stop following me! Oh, you don’t know the route. What I look like…a damn map? *Be nice. Be supportive. Share*
Yeah. WHATEVER.

There were some other ever more crass stuff that went through my head and that’s when I knew it was just time to turn Dominque Diva Dawes back to the house and take it in.

It happens to all of us. That moment of burn out. That moment when you just KNOW you need to turn up the heat, but the pilot light is out. Am I going to take a lot of time off…No. I’m going to do an open water swim tomorrow, take Friday off, do a long ride w/30min run (BRICK) Saturday and rest again on Sun.

I had to come to the realization that I will NOT make any earth shattering leaps in the next week before Iron Girl. It’s okay. Iron Girl Columbia is a VERY challenging course. At least I think so. Relax & Have Fun. That’s what I’m going to do.

After letting Prince Jordan fix me a “special girl sandwich” and contemplating my navel with my friend Makers Mark, I have decided that killing myself before Iron Girl isn’t going to get me to place so just have a good time and enjoy the moment. I decided that I would focus on the mile swim & running going into Nation’s and the two last road races of “my season” so that I can perform respectable but have fun.

The Madness went silent. For the moment.

So, how do you deal with Training Mind Madness?

Motivation in a Jar Project

2011-08-04T09:48:00.001-04:00

Do you ever wish you could bottle motivation when you have it? Ya know, to use for later? (Because you know this is the type of thing that runs out…)

Do you ever wish motivation came in a jar? So you can just open it up and have some when you need it?

I KNOW that I do! There have been plenty of times when I was looking for ANY excuse to not do a workout or ran out of gas in my tank 15 miles out and wanted to call somebody to just come get me – I’m done.

Well, ChristieO over at Average Mom’s Wear Capes is asking for us to help fill the jar of motivation. Once the “jar” is filled, we will all be able to reach in and help ourselves when we need a little UMPH! to get us going.

Still not sure what I mean?

ChristieO needs YOU to be a part of the “Motivation in a Jar” Project, her ~~not so~~ supersecret project in which everyone in the fitness community can help feed the finite pool of motivation. This is for you! It’s for me! It’s for everyone who has ever needed motivation in health and fitness and weight-loss!

If you tweet or blog about fitness or health or even if you don’t but health and fitness is just IMPORTANT to you, whether you’re successfully living healthfully or trying to live healthfully, whether you’re where you want to be or whether you wish you were where you want to be, JOIN HER IN THIS PROJECT!

Go on over to Average Mom’s Wear Capes and join in on the project. I did.

Who’s with me?

TOP SUSHI CHEF

2011-08-01T00:06:00.001-04:00

Saturday afternoon (yeah, after swimming 1/2mile & running 3), I executed one of my Liv.ing.S.oci.al coupons and went & took a Sushi Rolling Class at a place called CulinAerie in DC. It was a 2 hour course on how to make some basic sushi rolls and more importantly – how to ROLL a sushi roll into something edible.

AWESOME! It was a whole lot easier than I thought it was going to be. Even making the rice was way simpler than ever – if you use the right rice. After making a couple rolls (all were veggie California rolls), I was like where is my Sta.ple.s Easy Button…THAT WAS EASY!

I was now on a mission to test my new skills. This morning The Queen Mum, Princess Erin & Cara and I went out on a mission – 1st to pick up the Barbie Remote Control Car (kill me now) – and then to gather up everything I needed to make sushi for dinner. In addition to deciding what I was going to make ingredients, I needed sushi rice, noir paper (seaweed) & rolling mat. I found the mat at Be.d, B.at.h & Be.yo.d and the rest of the stuff at my local Gi.ant. I had a rice steamer at home (you don’t have to have one, but it makes life a lot simpler).

I decided to go with crab, shrimp, smoked salmon & some imitation lobster. Other condiments included cream cheese (Philly roll), cucumber, avocado, & carrots. I seasoned with Old Bay & or Seven Spice Seasoning.

So, I made the rice and while it was cooking I prepared all of the other ingredients ready & staged, covered my mat with plastic wrap (DO IT – or you will be pulling out rice out of the mat EVERY TIME). When the rice was ready, I let it cool a little, added the rice vinegar per package instructions and started rolling.

My combinations varied from the standard Philly Roll to Spicy Salmon to any ole combo of ingredients I felt would make a nice roll.

Here are a couple of tips that I learned in class and along the way to make the job just a little easier:

Keep a small bowl of water next to mat and keep your fingers (of at least one hand) wet. The rice WILL STICK to your fingers making it VERY DIFFICULT to spread rice if you don’t
Spread rice THINLY. No more than about 3 grains thick or the roll won’t close properly
Wet the tip of your VERY SHARP knife when cutting rolls. Poke roll with tip of knife and then cut. The nori can be difficult to slice through.
If your roll doesn’t exactly meet end to end – no biggie – you can hide your sins by pushing your slices together like served in a restaurant. Kinda like in picture above.
Have fun

Of course, the proof was in the pudding. What did the family think? Well, since there was NOTHING left from what I made….

…I think we have a new family favorite. What would have cost us way over $100 for all of what I made only came to about $80 and will be even less the next time as I have the hard items (mat, rice cooker, bag of sushi rice, wasabi, soy sauce, spices). GO US!!

Have you ever made your own sushi? You should! We had a blast.

Iron Girl Dress Rehearsal

2011-07-31T22:01:00.001-04:00

Saturday was the Iron Girl Triathlon “Dress Rehearsal”. Actually a practice swim and run clinic in preparation for the Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon on August 21st. What a wonderful race this is going to be. Everyone was so nice, supportive and encouraging.

I met so many wonderful ladies. Women of all shapes, sizes & colors. Just beautiful.

I made a new friend in Kathryn who is racing with Team Fight and hung out with Terri, Cassandra, Beth and a few others at Centennial Lake as we waited for our swim wave to get in the water. The set up was awesome. The organizers set up a 1100y course and they had all of these volunteer “swim angels” – someone who would swim along with you, giving you tips and encouraging you along the way. WOW!

I saw my friend, Sheila, from MidMdTri club – look at her coming out of the water VICTORIOUS. Terri had a swim angel with her and they both got out of the water smiling – ANOTHER VICTORY.

After taking a little rest break and having a snack, a few of us ran most of the Iron Girl run course – one of the most brutal run routes imaginable. That hill at about a mile out is RE-DAMN-DICULOUS. I have got to step up my run game or I’m going to be in the HURT LOCKER!

Despite the suffering (and slower race time) that is undoubtedly going to happen on this race (the bike & run routes are just UGLY & WRONG) I am really looking forward to this race.

We are women, hear us roar – WE ARE TRIATHLETES!

Hill Hell

2011-07-28T00:14:00.001-04:00

Yeah…that’s what I’m in right now- recovering from HILL HELL! Yesterday, I went to a workout with the PG Run Club and what was on the schedule…HILL INTERVALS. We ran a mile UP A HILL to a park, entered the park and then ran down this crazy azz hill. We gathered at the bottom and we did 8 hill repeats (run up that forsaken hill for a minute trying a different technique/adding on each time). I wanted to just DIE!

I did it. ALL 8 INTERVALS and ran back to the car.

Then, tonight, I went a swallowed the crazy koolaid and went on a 20 (22 to be exact) mile bike ride with a group of mostly guys that ride like a bats out of hell on a hilly course…and I gave it EVERYTHING I had in me to keep up. I pushed until I thought I was gonna hurl. Then, my buddy, TaniaB, took pity on my pathetic, suffering soul and hung back with me giving me the MOST AWESOME cycling tips along the way – and MADE me implement them as we rode. She saved my life.

I got home and dragged myself into the house. It prolly looked more like a modified low crawl. I knew I had pushed these past two days to the limit. I gave it my all…in hopes of those inches/seconds of improvement. This whole Triathlon business is not for sissies. I may cry (I often do), but I keep pushing – nobody really can’t tell the difference between tears & sweat/pool water. Just keep it moving.

Do or Do Not. There is No Try…only TRIATHLON!

Hill Hell…GET THEE BEHIND ME!

I AM A TRIATHLETE!

The Rain & 7th Level of Hell Ride

2011-07-23T23:21:00.001-04:00

This morning a bunch of us from TriUnify attempted to go on our 2nd group ride for 30 miles (combo of Columbia Tri/Iron Girl route). Our first ride two Saturday’s ago was great despite 2 flat tires, a chain falling off & a fall. This morning we were greeted to more mayhem in the form of dark clouds, thunder & lightening…but the sun was shining just round the way. Seriously. We made the command decision to go with the ride, got about 2 miles out and WHOOOSH!!!…the heavens opened and it started pouring. We turned around and headed back to the park. I needed windshield wipers on my eyebrows, it was raining so hard.

We got back to the cars and tried to wait it out…but gave up after about 15 minutes when it was still coming down cats & dogs.

We went back to my house and had breakfast and tried to decide what we were going to do for our workout. Well, after several panny cakes, eggs & bacon…everybody went their separate ways to try again another day.

NOT ME! My crazy ass decided that I would do a 20 mile ride from my house. DA HELL WAS I THINKING?!!

“Somebody call 911. Shorty Fire Burning on the ~~dance floor~~ bike seat. OHHOOHAH!”

That was me. I got out about 9-10 miles and the overcast clouds WERE GONE and the hot fiery ball of death was upon me. I felt like I was in the center of the HEAT DOME. Out the window went the 13-14 mph pace. I was just happy to be able to pedal. The air was so thick & hot that powering up the GAZILLION hills was damn near impossible. At mile 15 or so…FUGG THOSE BIG HILLS. I just got off the bike and walked up those hills. It was so bad that I actually contemplated calling someone at the house and getting them to come and pick my on fire ass up out of the heat. I made it back to the house and promptly threw myself into a cool shower while downing (2 bottles of water – yes, in the shower).

22 miles. DONE! Jesus be AC unit.

The saving grace…I snagged me one of these jerseys today! I AM A TRIATHLETE!…and even more importantly…I AM THE 12th MAN!

Personal Paparazzi

2011-07-20T22:11:00.001-04:00

I just HAD to give a shout out to the QueenMum – my mother @GmaSandyL. She went with me to the Finger Lakes and sat/stood out in the sun for hours while I did the Mini-Mussel Triathlon. She acted as my personal paparazzi for the entire weekend documenting all of our fun (antique shopping, street fair, motorcycle riding, hanging at a beautiful Victorian home, triathlon) for the weekend. When I say she takes the most fabulous pictures – IMHO – she TAKES FABULOUS PICTURES!

I thought I would share some of her AWESOMENESS with you….

How about this from my ride on @LeaderhipJoe’s Motorcycle to pick up my triathlon race packet…

Most importantly….Don’t forget to…