'Nuf Said

this photo fairly accurately describes the pool lane today.
Oh, that is these cars were slowly doing the breast stroke, or slowly doing the back stroke, using a kickboard, or crawling.
no really c r a w l i n g ..............

When it got to 8 people, with one guy doing deep, underwater, length of pool dives, I called it a day.

Ding !

Drummer girl, aka, Annalise, aka ABB... playing the ..... drumroll please............................................the triangle ! and quite well, if I must say so myself.

it's cell phone video, to explain the quality of video.

Shorts weather

Finally, on Monday I was able to run in shorts.. the first time since before Thanksgiving. Of course on Wed. it was back to the capri tights. That's kind of a weird sentence. One doesn't normally think of me and capri's. (or tights)

We did have a fun swim yesterday at the secret pool. Coach Lesley came along to check things out. One of the kindly pool staff offered Gina some hints on how to get her kick to be more helpful instead of "anchor-ish". She already knew but no one gets it... take one look at her calf muscles and tell me you don't see why she sinks.

Anyway , for some mid week fun I'll add a couple photos.


Here's super model Gina. Just before we headed off for a 2 hour indoor ride. Thank allah for tunes and Tiger on TV, kicking butt.

Yes, that's the pesky spot that is the reason I am blogging and not working out. Have decided a couple more complete rest days might be in order. Und now, more ice.

A Weak-ly Blog

Or at least I have only recently been inspired once a week. I'm sure things will pick up. But for now my posts are kind of like Maureen Dowd's..... one theme, and a boring one at that.

I've just sent in Gina's diatribe to the NY Times, asking if they want her to write the column cuz we all know the formula now. Trash Hillary and don't even bother being clever about it anymore. Sheesh..

So, off that political talk because it annoys me and onto this week's workouts. Which slightly annoyed me because my funky knee. It seemed like it had calmed down and was ready to go, so I went. But it's still a bit weird so I am erring on the side of caution. Lots of ice, a couple free PT clinics to help allay my fears that I've torn meniscus or something (weird word - meniscus).

I did swim 3 times and had great lane luck each time. The secret pool gave us a lane each, and then on Tues. I went to Green Lake pool, which had been shut for a few days maintenance. Thank allah Gina didn't go that day as the water was downright chilly. My second polar bear swim of the year. No wonder no one was there.

I went again on Sat. (cuz I didn't run) and my lane was fine. But I was glad no Fast lane folks showed up. Cuz the people who were in that lane would have been eaten alive. One dude was doing a floundering backstroke, and you know he didn't belong in the fast lane cuz he was not wearing a speedo. If the big guy who usually owns that lane had been there, well, lane rage might have made the nightly news.

OK, here are the #'s you are looking for. Me, I must go see who is wearing what on the red carpet.

Week 4 Totals : Feb 18 - Feb 24
Swim Time = 2hr. 37 min. (6900 yards)
Bike Time = 4hr. 50 min. (71 miles)
Run Time = 0hr. 50 min. (5.2 miles)

Total Training to Date
Swim Yards = 6hr. 55 min. (18000 yards)
Bike Miles = 12hr. 34 min. (184 miles)
Run Miles = 12hr. 33 min. (76.85 miles)

ugh

So, this week didn't seem so bad. Only swam once cuz of the slightly sore back. Only biked once. But ran 2 medium long and 1 really long.. and it showed. I have some sort of a sore knee after the 13+ miles yesterday. So I did not do the 90 minutes of biking that was on schedule for today. But I did ice it about 18 times.

Perhaps I need a new column in the spreadsheet. "hours spent icing".

Week 3 Totals : Feb 11 - Feb 17
Swim Time = 0hr. 54 min. (2200 yards)
Bike Time = 0hr. 52 min. (13 miles)
Run Time = 4hr. 20 min. (27 miles)

Total Training to Date
Swim Yards = 4hr. 18 min. (11100 yards)
Bike Miles = 7hr. 44 min. (113 miles)
Run Miles = 11hr. 43 min. (71.65 miles)

Uno is Numero Uno

Finally, a normal dog wins !
(OK, the Newfy that won a couple years ago is kind of normal. But HUGE.)

I was totally rooting for the beagle because the only dog I ever owned was a beagle. Bucko. And I can't wait to see Snickers, the neighbor beagle, to congratulate him on his breed.

But you know I can't let a dog show go by without a comment on the lady dog handlers and their outfits. OK, I'm not saying a word. But you know what I mean.

1406 is the best precinct !!!!!!!!!!!

Our precinct leader was a cheerleader type . I'm sure he was student body prez in high school. Which was probably 6 years ago.

This photo is fuzzy but Gina was clear about her candidate.... Hillary !!

We participated in the caucus on Saturday. Along with hundreds of others of our neighbors. I said that this (all these people here) was Bush's "legacy".... the country is thru with the ways of our president and want to have a say in the next go round. Well , I might have spiced it up a bit but this is a family blog.

We said our pledge of allegiance. Can't remember the last time that happened. Val was in the Library (with the wrench, says Gina) We were in the Girls Gym. Val said there was no flag in the library, but there was a poster of the USA Women's volleyball team and in the background of that picture was flag, so their precinct said the pledge to a team poster. so funny.

After counting the votes (Gina offered to do the tallying since it is a specialty of hers but they didn't need help) there was discussion zz zzz and then getting the uncommitted's to commit. Then a separation of Clinton fans and Obama fans... Gina wasn't sure if the older ladies on our side were really Hillary fans or just didn't want to give up their chairs.

We went with Val for a couple post caucus beers at the Green Lake Grill to discuss it all. Cuz I love talkin politics.

WSU rebounds

I finally got National Access, whatever that means on my cell phone. Here' s a pic of the cutest sweatpants . From our card playing days, last month. Tami showing her Cougar pride. But only because what was in that beer glass ended up on her lap minutes before.

But the Coug's did bounce back on Sat. They've had a rough stretch but got a win. As did the Huskies today, amazingly vs. the Bruins.

Caucus Schmaukus

I pledge allegiance to my stomach.

You can see by my grimace how happy I was to be at the caucus. I told Gina I'd go, but if ANYONE started talking politics with me I was OUTTA THERE !

The lady to my left is Michelle, a neighbor that I met there. If she turned around you would see the cutest little Hillary supporter. 5 months old. Dad was for Obama. go figure. We met and hung out with a bunch of our neighbors.

If I knew the caucus was going to be in the gym, I would have brought a basketball.. How about a game of HORSE to decide who the candidate is ? I've got a left handed hook shot that would put Hillary on the ticket for sure. Or how about a little two-on-two to pick delegates? .. Gina and I could pick and roll those Barack supporters to death. Seems about as fair as the process we went thru.

Another Week, a few more yards

Week 2 Totals : Feb 4 - Feb 10
Swim Time = 1hr. 45 min. (4800 yards)
Bike Time = 3hr. 50 min. (55 miles)
Run Time = 3hr. 58 min. (22.65 miles)

Total Training to Date
Swim Yards = 3hr. 24 min. (8900 yards)
Bike Miles = 6hr. 52 min. (100 miles)
Run Miles = 7hr. 23 min. (44.65 miles)

We may want to keep an eye on those weekly hour totals. If they get too close to looking like a J-O-B I might need to back off. I kid. Just today we were commenting on how our weekends are getting pretty tiring with long run on Saturday and long bike ride on Sunday. But then we laughed, cuz really, we like the long workouts.

On Thurs. we tried out a new swim pool. And I use the term 'new' loosely. We went to Mercer Island pool. They advertise an hour lap swim at 10am for $1 ! cheap. I figured if they are having a promo hour it means they want more people. Which means there probably aren't many people there. Correcto mundo ! G and I each had our own lane. Swimming Bliss ! But when we first walked out onto the pool deck our eyebrows raised.... The pool looks gross. The deep end is stained pretty badly. The water is fine and the pool is clean, just stained. But hey, we swim in Green Lake. And they actually use less chlorine so our noses were happy.

Oh, and the showers don't all work, and it was quite chilly in the lockerroom, and only one hair dryer works...... There's a big fundraising poster in the lobby. They plan on making things nice next August. What was so funny is this was Mercer Island !! How did they let it get so bad? I figure they all have their own lap pool at home.

But for now ? we had swimming bliss. No excessively slow backstrokers in my way. We'll still use our local pool mostly because it's close, but they are closed for installation of new filter system next week so glad we know about M I pool.

Yesterday I ran with the group on a 7.5 mile trail run up on Cougar Mtn. It was muddy and snowy/icy in some sections. But a great workout. Up and down, and over logs, and tip toe thru mud sections. Gina did 11 miles here in town. That trail run is the place she pulled (or tore) her hamstring so badly a few years ago. She don't need that action.

Today we joined Coach Lesley and Patricia and Tricia for some indoor biking. 2 hours worth, with a couple miles of running thrown in for good bricking measure. They would love to be outdoors but me, still too cold and it wasn't raining but it was wet. It makes it "fun" to do that amount of time with other people. The "Tricia's" are training for a half ironman in Calif. this summer.

Go Giants

We picked the Giants because I think my nephew Kyle (who is from NY) looks like Eli Manning. Only cuter.


See, now watch for when you see Eli's face framed by his helmet. You will see the resemblance.
Only Kyle is cuter. And smarter. And funner. And we love him.

I'm still kind of pissed at Eli for having the game of his life versus my Packers.

Info from the spreadsheet

Week 1 Totals : Jan 28 - Feb 3
Swim Time = 1hr. 39 min. (4100 yards)
Bike Time = 3hr. 2 min. (45 miles)
Run Time = 3hr. 25 min. (22 miles)


Gina did produce the most beautiful spreadsheet for me to keep daily, weekly, accumalative totals of all my swimming, biking and running #'s . Unfortunately, for some reason I am not allowed to copy & paste it into this blog page. So, then she fixed up a little baby spreadsheet that does the trick.

Moon Flush

Last week's #'s.... and no, I haven't had Gina set up a cute little spread sheet that I can just paste in and you all can compare the #'s on a weekly or monthly basis make your pie charts, etc. Cuz I know that's what you want to do.

No, she's been busy lately, doing Handy Andy chores... YEP, you guessed it, the flapper on the Toto toilet broke. And sure, being the prepared homeowners that we are, we do have spare flappers in our tool shed. But they are from the old style toilet, that most of you use. We have the Toto G-Max flusher !! But no worries, mate. Just give her a little floss, a sewing needle and a few minutes and voila ! ( toila ? ) We are flushing agin with G max force !!! sorry, no photos.

Anyway, the numbers:
I swam 2000 yards, only spun the bike once for 50:00 (approx. 15 miles) and ran 24. Twelve of those 24 were on Saturday up on Tiger Mtn. It was a great route, even if it was a double loop and had a huge uphill.


OK, its's a moon shot from this morning, instead of a pic's of a plumber's butt.

Gotta go! No, not to use the Toto, but gotta go put those old flappers on eBay.

Uncle Hiro has an Ace !

“Hiro Uete became a member of the Leisure Services City of St. Petersburg, Florida HOLE-IN-ONE CLUB by sinking an 8 iron tee shot on the 10th hole on January 5, 2008 at the Twin Brooks Golf Course.”

This bit of news comes from the eye witness, Aunt Helen, who I'm sure made at least par.

This photo is from the family reunion last summer where they were spectating at the frisbee football game. Looking on in awe of my frisbee talent. or Nick's.

Congratulations to Uncle Hiro ! And welcome to THE CLUB !! We shall toast to your success tonight. Or now.... why wait?

Gina and I are also proud members of the hole in one club. Hey, the reason for a blog is to toot your own horn.

By the way, the name of that city is the same as my degree from college.

Golden

As in "Golden Birthday". I, being the prodigy that I am, celebrated my golden birthday when I was just a 1 year old.

But today, yes, today, is all about the Golden Child. aka Drummer Girl aka the little boojah aka Lisi aka A.B.B.

Can we even believe it??? Annalise is 16 today !!!

And I just knew she would love to see a photo of herself on this, the world famous blog.

How else to celebrate her sweet 16 than with an oh so adorable mug shot from her pre-teen years?
Yes, she's the ghostly pale one in the middle, wondering why she and not her mother had to be the volunteer to learn to hula?? are those daggers coming out of her eyes?


Happy birthday.
you're welcome. :)

So, I thought this was a running blog

And it is. Well, actually, this year it's a running, biking and swimming blog. I have approximately 7 months til Ironman Canada. That seems like a long time. And it is. A long time to get this body ready to swim for 2.4 miles, bike for 112, and run 26.2. It's also a long time to keep this body from any freak injuries. And my normal everyday garden variety injuries, too. I'm looking at this as a year of cross training.

So, I shall keep you posted on training volumes. Cuz I know that's why you stop by this blog. To see the #'s. And if i can figure it out I'll add one of those countdown clocks... Just to really put the pressure on myself.

Last week was 1400 yds. of swimming, bike 23 miles / 1:45 hours (the mileage is approximations as it's all inside, on the trainer or in spin class) and 22 miles of running.
This week was 1600 swim, bike 43 / 2:30 and run 21.

FYI, 2.4 miles = 4224 yards

It's a slow buildup of swimming, but soon will be twice a week, then more. Fortunately, the pool is not bothering my sinuses, yet. And the bike is a gradual build up, too. The outdoor mileage won't happen for me til the weather warms up. Although today is a sunny nice day, so after the gym I pedalled my bike around the 'hood for a while. Yesterday we ran the 6 mile campus loop with the group, then ran to home to hop on the bikes for 45 minutes, then finish up with a 4 mile run. It was really a fun workout. And we got done in time to watch the PACKERS WIN !!

Oh, and in case the coach is reading this, I'm also spending a bunch of time stretching and doing exercises for my core (my sixpack hasn't shown up yet) and glutes (remember all the butt jokes?) and overall weight workouts. I'll never have big muscles unless, hey I hear that flaxseed works or is it vitamin B12?

Und now, blindfolded

and just to make sure the crowd is in a frenzy, the do it all again, BLINDFOLDED !

What can I say, it's Thousand Oaks, where a few high school kids with stix, garbage cans and bandanas is like the second coming of Elvis.

They ROCK !!!

More drumming

Annalise and her drumline performing on garbage cans, at halftime of the school basketball game. Sounds like it really gets the crowd fired up ! (she is on the right end of the line)(tall girl)(excuse me, tall good looking brilliant talented and oh so charming girl)(she's not back from Rome yet and I await my xmas gift)

Trip n Drip

Post run & dip cheers ! Gina, ATR and Pam.

Phone photos from the race

Dip

You can see the chilly lake in the background.

Party Pam Banks made record time in getting to the race site and registering. I called her at 9:55am to see if she was showing... still at home in east Ballard (south Loyal Heights?), sounds like a no go to me. But WAIT A MINUTE ! There she is, ready to run by 10:30am.. Not sure if she got any speeding tickets on the way, but we were so glad she made it.

Sports Cliches

Today we will be watching 6 football games and at least one basketball game. It's 9:30am and one game has already started.. Go Air Force !! can you tell we're in a football pool? Anyway, with that many games today, and 6 more tomorrow M Go Blue!
I found this article about sports cliches quite amusing.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07364/845181-13.stm

Stofleez & frites

Marg & annemie

Tonight we had dinner at Edie's (Margaret's mom's) house.. Margaret gets to live there. Her buddy Annemie, from Belgium ( but living and working in Laos) cooked dinner for us (us being Michelle, Teri, Cindy, Julie, Julie's iPhone, Gina and me). Stofles (beef stew) and frites (french fries). I asked does everyone in Belgium have a frites cooker (margaret does) ? A. says why yes, national food.. How do Americans cook their fries? I said Mickey D does it for us. nobody cooks fries at home.

I was able to blog the photo from the house. The text I add later, cuz jeez how do people send text messages all the time? Give me a keyboard.

But the iPhone was the entertainment of the night. cuz Robbie (the parrot) doesn't travel as well.

Christmas with the Young family

and some hangers on's, like me.

Gina and I spent Christmas eve at Marilyn's, eating sushi and cookies. (yes, after Mass) Then in the morning we drove to one of the Tri-Cities, to have dinner & gift giving at Steve's house. Betty was the hostess with the most-ess. She cooked up a turkey and the thickest pork chops I ever saw. Dinner was DE-LISH !! Quite a feast for such a big crowd.... 14 of us.. Steve, Betty, Scott, Susie, Slots, Gina, me, Sheryl (Betty's buddy) and the kids - JR and his lovely & very pregnant wife Tanya, Mike and Crystal, and Judi and her fiance Richard (Richard is just home from Iraq).
Make that 15, Betty's son Troy drove all the way from Seattle that day for his mom's meal, and Marilyn's cookies.
Apologies to any names I'm mispelling. (am spelling that wrong?)

So, let's get to the pictures. Settle in, cuz I've got a lot of pictures.


ok, this picture should go along side photo of the bins of cookies....
let's just call this a picture of "Ann's cookies".


The new holiday door mat (we got one just like it)

Gina and Marilyn, with the clever wrapping job by Sue.

The kids...JR, Tanya, G, Judi, Richard

Slots helping out with the gravy making.

Steve opening his present from Scott.... coal !

Hula skirt for the Wiki race.. No, not for the wicked racer.

Slots & Gina in their greenery.


Betty takes a time out from cooking for a photo op.


Mike and Crystal

Sheryl and Betty.

Steve, with the gift of an eagle for JR. I remember when he was getting eagle posters, etc when he was 9 yrs. old.

The Youngs and the turkey..........
Or should I say, the turkeys are not so young ?

That's the glory of having a blog.. I can offer up lame jokes like that.
Hey, Scott, get yer own blog.

Susie makes it to the blog

And congrats to the photographer for having the patience to finally catch her smiling and not hiding from the camera.


one eye at 1:36pm

the full cover up, why doesn't she just wear a burqua?


Gotcha ! although I should have included the clock in each picture to see just how patient I was. And those sox are sure festive.


oh, and look, here's Scott escaping with 3 pairs of Levi's... 4 if you count the pair he's wearing. No, that's not a halo over him.

No chains for us

The cookies !

Sun to the snow

Our Saturday group run that Coaches Lesley and Tony led us on was a snow run. But there wasn't a lot of running.. We went from worried that there would be no snow (just rain and cold) to Holy Cow, it's 2 feet deep. and getting deeper! We ran on Snoqualmie Mtn. for 2+ hours. And we only ran 6 miles. It was slow going, running/trudging from footprint to footprint. Of course the first guy out was Tim (who is 6'8") and his steps are really far apart.

We had a blast !


i think the white spots are the flash catching snowflakes.

It looks like nightime but really just dark forest with no sunshine. I love Gina's hand on hip pose. Really she's saying "snap it, I'm freezing just standing still."

that's Tall Tim. now that I look, those gals look pretty tall, too. The snowman was there waiting for us. I think Tony made it the day before.



Gina is looking colorful, next to Tony's Always Running van.

Some of the Always Running gang just before starting uphill.



Check out this waterfall.
The whole run was just beautiful. Of course, I only noticed it when I stopped. Otherwise I had to concentrate on putting my feet into the previous runners' footprints.

No, I wasn't moving the candles around..... they change colors ...
at least I think they do, the mai tai's were very good.

Aloha

mai tai's, please
gina points out the turtle
you can see it, can't you?
a beautiful view, of my feet and toes
I have a picture of this dude, from just about every year. He's getting balder, but he still does the cliff dive.

We had a good time but "suffered" thru 4 days of rain. Yes, yes, at least it was a warm rain. But jeez. We did get to watch numerous sporting events on tv at the pool bar. And that is my kind of vacation.

More drumming

OK, I'm just delaying on writing anything.

But this is COOL ! of course, I'm a proud auntie.

Updated Drummer girl

so, the last video of Annalise drumming caused a bit of embarrassment, as it was from YEARS ago.... here is a more recent file clip of her and the Thousand Oaks H.S. drumline.