Ben turns 9

It was a very fun celebration we had earlier this week for Ben's 9th birthday. I can't believe he is 9! We went to Cheeseburger Cheeseburger and the boys had burgers (free birthday burgers) and I ate a boring salad of course.

then we went to the hobby store and bought balsa wood model air planes. We are headed to San Diego in a couple of weeks and there will likely be more celebration when we arrive there.

I have been under the weather for the past few days and am feeling much better.

I have also created a new blog for my art.

www.she-paints.blogspot.com

please visit this site and let me know what you think. I will be upgrading it.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:
1. feeling better
2. these cute cute blondies
3. longer days and more daylight
4. painting
5. again, these cute boys.

Lot 6627

I have been coming here now for more than 23 years to stand in front of what is identified as "Lot 6627" at Arlington Cemetery but what represents the resting spot for the biggest loss I have endured in my life thus far.

It is hard to believe that I am now in my 45th year and David was only 24 when he left this world. His spot here lies between a Korean War Veteran who died in 2004 after a good long life and a Vietnam Vet who had been a prisoner of war and also missing in action and whose remains, when found were put to rest a few days after David's. I always tell that Vietnam POW to take care of David, thinking that he had been through so much hardship and suffering that he was very very wise and could help my daredevil friend. Or perhaps it would be the other way around.

Having David in my life, albeit for such a short time that was cut off so abruptly, has been a gift that cannot be compared to anything else.

The trees now are big, like they've been here all along. I remember when this was a newly filled part of Arlington Cemetery, sadly this Section 66 is now filled up and there are many more new sections getting filled. Just over the hill is the Sept. 11 memorial that stands near the Pentagon. A lot of sad stuff and sad memories rest with us in this world but by the grace of God we continue.

For years I've tried to put my thoughts into words about David, but it has been too difficult and it seems that my humble prose cannot begin to reflect or represent that time in my life. It still is difficult, but I guess these things age with you in a way that offers wisdom and vision.

I remember 23 years ago not knowing how I'd be able to continue on with such sadness, but I have. I wake up every day thinking of David. But I've had a very full life, I am raising a family and I've never moved backward on this road called life.

Love endures. It brings you joy like nothing else and it can tear you apart but it endures. That is good.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:
1. moving forward, really
2. a heart that will mend
3. a strong will
4. good iced tea
5. not having to always list a B: when you have an A: point.

Not snowin' here!

I arrived here late Friday afternoon and it was 78. I left my overcoat in the car at BWI because I don't need it. We shortly thereafter stopped at an Italian restaurant on the island and ate mussels, salad and a pizza with anchovies, salami and onions- excellent but very very full.

Today it was sunny and perfect- and we went for a really long walk with the dogs. I will take pictures tomorrow of some of the beautiful houses on this island- it reminds me a lot of San Diego before it got really built up. Today we went out in Spencer's blowup kayak (it's really a canoe but he keeps calling it a kayak) and just floated around the harbor and took pictures- I've posted one. a nice lazy day. Salad for dinner here and then we're going to a movie. Tomorrow we will spend the day with Spencer's parents in Sarasota-- we may stop at some park to see aligators (although you know my sentiments about the whole wildlife issue.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:
1. a good bowl of fruit
2. sunny skies and warm weather
3. blowup canoes that stay inflated!
4. candy
5. a little sun on my cheeks.

Percent vs. actual heart rate- it matters!

So i used my new heart monitor yesterday evening in spin class, programmed in my age, weight etc and hit the start button when the wheels started spinning. I know my range for a moderate to heavy workout is about 160 to 185 but I kept spinning and spinning and getting really out of breath and tired but I couldn't get above 90. During a couple of climbs I got up to 94 and was completely shocked because I was really out of breath and getting really tired and really feeling like I was working hard.

So I brought this up with my friend and wondered why I would feel so tired but couldn't get my heart rate above 94. As it turns out, what I was seeing was percentage points, not the actual heart rate and for the bulk of my workout I was operating at about 90 percent! (180, not 94) so there you have it. I burned off 512 calories (in addition to the 174 during the killer ab class) and now I am clear on the percentage/vs heart rate stuff.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:
1. having my freedom
2. a good warm coat on a day like today
3. excellent scenery.
4. being able to multi-task
5. those who understand my humor.

Sushi for lunch

This is not my actual lunch. I did not take a picture of that- instead I ate it- with pleasure-- lots of sushimi- my favorite.

anyway- it's cold and rainy out. I am looking forward to warm weather.

I finally finished my feature on self-fulfilling prophecies and recessions-- or the "animal spirits" theory in the Keynesian model.-- as you can tell this topic was not that driving for me so I dragged this project out for many many many days- in fact like two weeks I think-- I really have to improve my attitude.

So to celebrate I bought the sushi/sashimi platter at the little place that wants to buy some of my sushi art- (no discount offered for my lunch obviously) and now I am sitting here just enjoying the thought of that lunch. I will be heading out soon to go lift weights and do some cardio. after the sushi is a bit more settled- sushi salad all over the treadmill is not a good thought.

after this weekend's long bike ride I am still suffering a bit- triathlon shorts are not to be worn for long rides- let's just keep it at that--

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS
1. today's lunch
2. finishing that horrible story assignment
3. trips to sunny places
4. diaper rash cream
5. email filters-that direct certain emails into my JUNK EMAIL folder so I don't have to read them.

More Sushi

More Pictures

Furthermore

This is how much of a loser I am-- All weekend long I've been putting off working on a feature I need to have out on the wire on Monday by noon and instead last night I painted this ridiculous thing-- It's a business card from a restaurant I went to once- I just felt like doing something red and shiny- oh well.

tri-shorts are not a good thing for long rides

So I ended up doing a rather long ride today- I started out at 6 am and it was very very cold. I rode from colesville, maryland (which is north of silver spring) through Spencerville, Sunshine, Unity and then into Mt. Airy in Howard County toward frederick over South Mountain and then back.

I'm exausted and I have no voice and I'm hurting in a bad sort of way because I wore triathlon shorts that are little too big instead of my bike shorts under my biking tights- and now there is a bit of a chafing issue- needless to say all the times I told my friend Leslie that the Chamois butter stuff was unnecessary I am now paying dearly. It's not fun- but I can tell you I had a great ride

According to my heart monitor I burned almost 900 calories while maintaining a heart rate in the 160 to 180 range- (it was a bit higher on south mountain!) anyway I seem to have lost my voice after all this-- I don't know why exactly- it's not like I was yelling- but I don't have a voice.

It was very very cold- i didn't warm up till about mile 24 for some reason and then I stayed pretty warm until I got back to my car. With all the bike gear on- toe warmers, hoods, tightfitted layers of biking jerseyes, and jackets- I looked like something out of a star wars movie-- i never in my life imagined I'd be looking like that! anyway- I had a great ride- Nothing beats blue skies, clean air, your thoughts and making a dream happen.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:

1. the hot tea I enjoyed after a long ride
2. getting over south mountain without dying
3. the bath i just took
4. being able to feel my toes
5. a voice, when i eventually get mine back.

Hamster funerals, snow and ice is gone, animal spirits

Wow, if this isn't the dog's breakfast of a posting. Well, we had a loss in our family. Truman has gone on to better things. He (she) was a nice hamster and very good at escaping from the cage, liked to be held, ate a lot of food etc. Ben was a bit more understanding of the concept that Truman ain't coming back but Jack is just full of questions-- It's about 10 degrees outside so we couldn't really have a proper funeral and therefore had to do a little memorial service at the trash can outside.

I tried to explain to Jack that Truman was headed for a happier place, and he just didn't understand- "How will he get there from the trash can?" "Will he climb out?" "The Trash can is the happy place?"

It's all very complicated but we are working on this.

It's been very nasty here. Luckily it the snow and ice are gone. I have a big bike ride planned tomorrow so I'm glad the weather is better.

I had sushi last night with a friend who is a professional bike racer- built like a solid little racing rock- and crazy into cycling. I'm hoping i will learn some technique and be inspired to ride more. I'm certainly inspired so far!

Well, this one is going to be short- I have to head to the gym and then I need to start making Chicken Sate for Ben's Blue and Gold Cub scout banquet tonight.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:

1. sushi with a bike racer
2. dry bike-riding roads
3. this very warm down comforter
4. emails
5. the coffee I will soon be drinking

Will it rub off onto me?

Ok, so this is the question- If I spend time with an avid bike racer- will those skills rub off on me? hmmm.? good question. well either way I am certain I will gain something from the experience.

All week long I've spent time at this desk trying to look busy, but I just can't bring myself to focus on the economy this week- too much asskissing stuff going with people here. Also, I'm just really tired. Oh and how many times can we write that the economy is headed for recession?

So much of my day is filled with heading back to the kitchen with hopes that the tv crew has left some good fruit or leftover lunch stuff. There were some fresh berries in there this morning that i enjoyed for breakfast. Had lunch with my ex today- a salad at the local brewery place near here- it's nice to get out and away from here.

Our family Hamster is nearing his final days. so it's a matter of time- poor thing- he's sick with something and we've tried to nurse him back to health but I think his day is soon here. We are doing our best to make him as comfortable as possible.

So anyway, that's it-- I'm going to take some pics of ben and jack-

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:

1. lots of sunshine, which is very important on cold cold days
2. good scenery in places where you don't expect to see it
3. finally completing all of my laundry
4. not having to get up for an early econmic report on friday morning
5. 4 yr old little boys running around in space man pajamas.

It's where you are going that matters

I meet these people in life and they are so accomplished. And of course then I made the assumption that they must indeed be the best and kindest and most honest people on the planet. It all makes sense doesn't it? if you spend so much energy getting away from bad stuff, there can't be any bad in you.

Sometimes you meet people who have risen from such poverty or hardship and you just want to hold onto them and hope their strength will pour off onto you.

But an old friend points out that from where a person came is only half the story. Where that person is headed is the other half, in fact probably more important than anything else.

We tend to meet people in life and idealize them and hope and expect the best from them but if they are not on a good path then it's likely not such good stuff will be coming from them. Well, I suppose this is all obvious to everyone on the planet but me right? Ok, so be it.

Anyway, I don't have any biking news to give you today- my two red beauties are gathering dust- I just can't bring myself to brave the cold.

I did happen to meet briefly last week with someone who races professionally (very very cute too) and it was humbling but fascinating to hear about. He suggested we go out for a ride at some point and while I'd love to do that- the thought also is a bit intimidating- It's been suggested I pull out my trainer and spend HOURS on it every day to get up to speed. too funny. I'm wondering if I spend the next two weeks on the trainer if it will make my legs shrink to about half their size?

well either way, I will be doing the killer spin class tomorrow at noon and if i'm energetic enough tomorrow evening i will do the class with the crazy pregnant bike racer instructor. (she's a killer)

Sorry to punish all of you with two postings, particularly the freakish self portrait-- Just use your imagination and then it looks a little better.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS

1. having finished all my laundry
2. completing a good run on my treadmill
3. resisting the temptation to write exactly what I feel- the mean stuff - and then sending it in an email
4. singing Jack to sleep- he likes what he calls the "God song" it actually doesnt mention the deity at all but rather is a carole king song- "Love Makes the World Go Round" -- jack has good taste- I can't wait for him to crawl in bed next to me tomorrow morning-
5. getting beaten by Ben in a close backgammon game. My little guy is getting so big and smart. I remember the first time I got to spend time alone with him in the hospital and he fell asleep on my chest and at that moment I knew I had just begun to understand what life is all about.

Small steps, sometimes living life in 15 minute segments.

She paints herself

Okay, I will admit, as of late, the painting is grabbing my interest more so than the cycling- that doesn't mean i'm giving any of that up, I'm just having a bit of a renaissance right now and I'm going to go with it.

One is a very stylized self-portrait- one is beach legs (not mine clearly) and another sushi painting- more poster-like- I'm experimenting with texture, colour and depth. Painting people is really really hard, but what is interesting is that I guess I perceive myself as strong and muscular- anyway. there it is. I like it only because it was a big challenge and I need much more work but i will continue to do so.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:
1. really good coffee
2. hearing my little jack sing to himself while he plays
3. a good game of backgammon with my benjamin
4. thinking about my beach visit in san diego in march
5. silly ridiculous friends who like me no matter what.

Lots of Painting Going on Here

I have been just a little busy this weekend as you can see. I'm really liking doing the landscapes. I have a few more sushi pictures to finish and then I'm going to focus on landscapes for a while.

It's been a good weekend, lots of work done, my computer is finally back together. UGH! I'm going to lovely St. Louis tomorrow for a night to cover a Fed Bank President, should be fun to get away for a while.

Ben and Jack did some painting too this weekend. We've had a good time together. Ben is getting very good on the piano too. I'm so proud of him. Geez, well I don't have much else to say.

"It is better to be 80 years young than to be 40 years old."

That was the fortune I got in my fortune cookie last night.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:
1. ben and jack
2. really tasty salads with hot wing sauce
3. getting all the paint off of me
4. fly paper
5. life

Sun on my cheeks

I actually have a bit of a little sunburn today from riding on such a sunny day. Ben and Jack were with their father all weekend so I've been keeping myself busy with the things that make me happy when I am not with them, (being with them makes me the happiest).

I know I've said this but I've had a hard hard week, and I made it through and I'm going to be fine. I feel at peace, I am working on forgiving (which is hard when a person isn't even sorry or clearly is not in the know of the damage or hurt he/she has caused)

The art of forgiving is a good one to develop though. I think, ultimately it is better to share your grace then it is to walk around with a grudge and resentment. It is a better exercise for the soul and character and it brings you peace. It's the right thing to do.

Anyway, I got in a nice long ride today. I started out later than expected, but I still managed to race out to the mountains and I felt really strong as the air filled my lungs and made my blood strong as it pumped through every inch of me.

Sometimes we get some bad stuff thrown our way, that happens- What finishes the story is how we handle the bad stuff. Can we look at ourselves in the mirror and be at peace? I also think, together with forgiving those who harm us, is the absolute necessity to be kind to ourselves. I've really tried to be kind to myself this week. I spent a few days not being able to eat or sleep and that was not a good thing. Now I'm sleeping, eating and even have had a couple of laughs with a dear friend.

Life goes on- that's the good part.

Ok- confession- I'm a little sore in the bike seat area- I have a good friend in Arizona who is amazed I don't have to use this stuff called "Chamois Butter" I sure wish i had some now, i'm having a bit of an issue. 70 miles on that bike this weekend has had its toll.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS

1. family
2. friends
3. foregiving (ok- working on it- i'm not there yet)
4. strong girls on bikes
5. the sun that left it's kiss on my cheeks.

MORE PICTURES

MORE PICTURES

EVERY TIME YOU CLIMB UP A MOUNTAIN, YOU SOAR DOWN THE OTHER SIDE

Well, here I am, today on a road I always wanted to ride with my bike. I remember years ago, weighing nearly twice what I do now and thinking how nice it would be to be healthy enough to get out and ride this road on a bike.

This is the last of what is not developed near me and it is gradually disappearing. It was so quiet and at times all you can hear is your breathing, the wind and the only spoken word for miles is “moo”.

It’s been a really tough year for me, actually a really tough couple of years, well even longer really, but here I am, and this today was my road called life. My life is probably half over, and I plan to live the second half to its best.

I only road 24 miles today because I stopped many times, to touch the worn trunks of ancient trees, to look at the dancing craggy branches in apple orchards and to look ahead on the horizon at blue skies and crisp barns and grain silos. There were worn houses with sloping porches and rusty mailboxes. It all seemed so perfectly balanced to be in a world where most people probably only need to read the small town weekly paper to know who was born, who died, which farm was sold etc. In this life, people probably see more of the world than we ever give ourselves time to enjoy.

I stopped at a little farm and there was this baby sheep next to its mother, it must have just been born because its fur was wet and it still had its umbilical cord connected- it would wobble, then fall down on its little knees and then mother would gently nose it back up and he would fall backward. He kept on trying though and she stayed by him so protectively.

I saw horses, unbridled and so splendid, gallop in groups through wide pastures and then give me a watchful eye wondering if I would stay or leave.

This is my life, mountains to climb, challenges to face and I’ve decided that I’m going to ride into the sun as long as I can, and when I can’t ride, then I will walk, and when I can’t walk I will look, and when I can’t look I will feel the sun warm my face and when I can’t feel, then I will sleep and I will have lived a full life.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:
1.new days
2.being strong
3. finding hope
4.stopping to see and touch and smell all the details in life
5. finally getting it again.

BREATHE IN THROUGH YOUR NOSE, EXHALE THROUGH YOUR MOUTH

Yesterday, It was pretty cold out but the sun was shining and the sky was so very blue and as I walked across Lafayette Square from the White House, this calm came over me as I remembered to breathe in through my nose and exhale through my mouth. This is what I do when I am powering up a big mountain on my bike and it gets me in this calm, smooth rythm, legs moving, arms relaxed, neck shoulders back straight but relaxed, breathe in, exhale out, you become part of the mountain and reaching the end becomes less of an issue. This is what I have to keep reminding myself about in life, there will always be mountains, and bumps, and challenges but you have to just get into the pace of things and if, for some chance, the best thing that happens to you in a given day is you had a great apple, or the sun warmed your face for a few moments, that is a good thing.

I think it is important to forgive, move on and share your strength with the world. I think forgiving is more a gift for the forgiver than anything else.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS
1. getting through a really hard week
2. seared tuna in a cilantro, ginger, soy, lime marinade with fresh avocado
3. eating crunchy apple slices with peanut butter and not having a bad pain in my heart.
4. taking any challenge on
5. a full night's sleep.

Just a few more pictures

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

This is us. We are doing just fine, Silly Jack, my thoughtful Benjamin, deaf little Scotty who's been with us for so many years and well, me- a self portrait that highlights probably more wrinkles than I'd like to admit I have- I didn't do photoshop with that because I am who I am.

I woke up this morning after more sleep than I've had in days and I am still very sad but I'm a believer in "the glass is half full" approach. So here's a really good memory.

About five weeks ago I took out Red Beauty One for a ride. It was a strangely warm day but well past the peak of fall. There is this parkway I ride, it's not a hard ride and it's more a thing just to make me happy rather than work out. The sky was this sapphire blue and the sun was so very bright. As I streamed through the air on the road leaves were falling everywhere, golden, brown, red, yellow, orange.It was this shower of color and I was in it and it was so quiet. All could hear was the wind and my breath.

We have the ability to store memories. Some are good and some not so good. I think it's important to focus on the good stuff, like the first time you lay eyes on your newborn child, or the clanking of masts of empty sail boats docked at Sand Street Beach first thing in the morning. I remember those moments so clearly.

This fall I drove out to the end of Long Island. I hadn't been since I graduated from high school. I got gravely sick but that is another story and I am better now. But on my way home I stopped off at all the places I went to when I was a teenager and the things that were so important to me hadn't changed. It is nice that some things stay the same.

It is nice that some things change too. I guess it's a balancing out. Well, I'm going to go downstairs and try and eat something- It will be the first time since Monday. Wish me luck today.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS
1. being ok
2. a strong will
3. sleep
4. things and people that matter
5. accepting what matters and leaving behind what doesnt'

ANOTHER DAY. THIS IS GOOD

I managed to get in a few hours of sleep last night, so I feel a little stronger. I remember when I was pregnant, I was so sick the entire time and first thing in the morning for maybe 30 seconds I would not feel sick and it was strange and then it would kick back in again.

I felt that way this morning. I woke up at about 4 am (better than last night). And for a few seconds I felt ok and then my heart started hurting again. I know I will feel better soon. I always do.

I need to take some time and reflect and figure out how I can take care of myself better.

So here is the deal, I will get up, I will put my strongest foot forward and I will take small steps if I have to. Strength comes, I know this.



FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:
1.having gotten at least a few hours of sleep
2.getting a better perspective
3.realizing that the goodness in people isn’t the stuff full of vibrato but the quiet kindness
4.learning that actions speak louder than words.
5.this comfortable room with all my paintings and bikes

This Girl's Got Bike!

Wow, How do I even begin to explain why I have not posted here in so long. All I can say is it’s been an interesting year. I’ve had some ups and downs over the past several months and I am learning that a road full of bumps is a normal thing- that’s why we have shock absorbers.

Well, here I am and this feels right now like one of the most difficult days in my life, much of what I brought on myself. I didn’t sleep at all last night. I really wanted to and my alarm clock kept staring back at me, so I finally tossed it under my bed. (didn’t need the mean reminder)

I bought a new bike. I can’t afford it and one could certainly argue that I don’t need it, but I am keeping it. I’ve named her Azul. She is a deep sapphire blue like the desert sky or the water that you see when you look down over La Jolla Cove in San Diego. So Azul is the name- it came to me this morning.

Speaking of which, I did something this morning I haven’t taken the time to do in months, it was dark and I quietly went down to the kitchen at 5 am and looked out the window. It’s cloudy out so I couldn’t see any stars but the day was so new and a gift to me. I used to do this ritual every morning, sometimes I would feel lonely, but I always felt hopeful. Today I felt hopeful. Love is this thing that feels wonderful but it also feels like it can kill you at times. I just have not found the balance here. But I do have this new day and I’ll have another one tomorrow and thereafter.

So my new Azul, she is a tough Cannondale cyclocross and she will be dependable and safe enough for me to commute to work. I didn’t ride her in today because I didn’t have any sleep, but when I am stronger I will ride her in and it will put a smile on this face.

I don’t have lost hope and I don’t want readers to think this. Quite the opposite. I am just writing to say I’m having a tough time right now, my heart is a bit heavy but I have many wonderful things in my life, and friends and good family- so things will be better.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS
1. brand new days
2. really really trying to be strong- it’s so hard but it’s worth the effort
3. the kind people in this world who so often get overlooked
4. angst- (it makes me lose weight)
5. being able to get through things, abeit 15 minutes at a time.

ENJOY LIFE! FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR THE BAD CHOICES YOU MAKE AND KEEP TRAVELING THIS ROAD CALLED LIFE. A FLAT ROAD WITH NO TURNS OR BUMPS IS NOT A CHALLENGE.

SWIMMING/OLD FRIENDS

I swam a mile today at the YMCA at an easy pace, in about 40 minutes. I had the pool to myself up until my last ten laps- and I looked over and it was a friend who was a roomate of mine in 1986!

I hadn't seen her in more than five years and here we were swimming at the YMCA. Obviously a lot has changed in my life and I had much to tell. Trips to New York etc. all good stuff. It's funny, my older friends when they see me now, they see me as I was when I was in my 20s or even younger. I feel like I took a break from being me for the past ten years. It feels very good to be back.

Anyway, we will be having cosmopolitans at her place soon enough. I ride my bike nearby her house everyday on my way home from work.

We will be coloring Easter Eggs tonight. I'm going to also do some beautiful tissue paper collage and painting on some of them. I'm looking forward to it. I have been doing a lot of painting lately. I will do this as long as I can.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:
1. plump raisins
2. old friends
3. diversity
4. diet coke
5. a good hair day (I'm having one today!)

I'm Back

It's terrible that I've been so neglectful here. I've certainly been hearing about it too.

Well, where do I begin. I've already had two races so far this year. A triathlon in March in Arizona and just this past weekend a 10-miler running race. (a total freak show with all these olympic types running it in under five minute miles). The Arizona trip was fabulous. Sapphire blue skies, warm sun and great time with my friend Leslie, who is quite skilled at the whole car dancing thing. What could be better?

So much has happened over the last few months it's hard to begin. Suffice to say I'm quite happy in a roller coaster sort of way. I'm eating, breathing, and loving this life. It is a good life indeed. It is so different than what I expected, but maybe that is what makes it so fun. One thing that is so good to know is that hearts mend and friendships last and what strength you have will make you even more strong.

I have another race in a few weeks. It's a local race and I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully my personal trainer, Jason, will be able to work with me a few times I've lost a good bit of my muscle strength- no iron maidens lifting recently. He put me through this terrible ab exercise stuff and I felt like I had abdominal surgery-- it hurt when i would cough.

Anyway, over the next few postings I will try and fill you in as much as possible. I'm still going strong, still doing the races, still self improving and still journeying on this road called life. more to come.

here is my race schedule: (i will update it with more accurate dates when I am able to do so)
March 12- Tucson triathlon
April 2- Cherry Blossom ten miler
April 29 Herndon triathlon
May- nuttin
June- 10 Delaware Flatlands century
June 17- Great Chesapeake Bay Swim (4.4 miles across!)
July 15-- tentative- Colonial Beach triathlon (olympic length)
Aug. 5- Culpepper Triathlon--
August 29- Iron Girl-- (hardest race)
Sept. 15/ either Dewey Beach Triathlon or the Washington Triathlon-- can't decide
Oct. 15 - the tinfoilman triathlon in Tucson
Nov- 16-- El'Tour- 110 mile bike race.



Freedom not mine

I would have you, but only in this heart
quiet, alone and unnoticed. Then changed.
But now eyes can see, and oh that these lips have been touched
sweet and strong.
But as a secret, can this be, and only
for a short while.
Then the day will indeed be gone.

FIVE FAVORITE THINGS:
1. this cozy warm bed
2. joyful imbalances
3. emails
4. diet mountain dew drinkers
5. germ freaks