Where the hell have I been?

(I made my blog private for awhile because paranoia was setting in after a bunch of people wanted to be my "friend" on Facebook, some of which I barely remember from HS. So if this is you, sorry-I am limiting my "friends" on FB)..I am over it..

BUT...I decided to take myself off the "do not read" list and make public again..nuff said..

I am in my third week of a 17 week "advanced" Ironman training program from Beginnertriathlete.com. Am I advanced? Well, that remains to be seen. My week last week looked like this:

Swim: 9400 yards

Bike: 108 miles

Run: 16 miles

We are off and running on our Ironman Western Australia adventure. There is some underlying hesitation in my training. We have two elders in our midst who could take a turn for the worst on any given day. First of all, 14 year old Mocha (dog) is still alive and well. And she has a brain or soul or whatever you want to call it because each time we see her faltering and start talking about the final trip to the vet, she rallies. Oh no you don't..I am still here and love to eat and take walks..don't even think about it! Every so often, her back legs just do not work, she falls and can't get up. We think..uh-oh this is it..Then she rallies.. I cannot believe this dog is still alive..We still love her and she seems to want pets once in awhile even still.

Then there is elder mother in law who basically is in the same boat. Just when we think she is down for the count, she too rallies and says Nope, not ready to go yet-got lots of living to do and great grandchildren to see! Honestly I think she is waiting for the two remaining grand-daughters to get married. After all women need husbands you know! God bless her..

You know you are in Ironman training when folks start to tell you that you look like you are losing weight. But the mistake I make is then getting on the scale and realizing I actually gained 2.5 lbs! Damn that scale!! I do realize after riding 52 miles yesterday up and down mountains, taking in gobs of electroylytes and ibuprofen, my kidneys are probably holding water...that's it-water weight! Damn scale..

I am still hesitantly excited for our 2 month vacation which starts in 15 weeks and 3 days. We leave on Thanksgiving day and return on January 31st. Tickets are paid for, hotels reserved for part of the trip, hiking the Milford track in New Zealand reserved...Even our ever so light suitcases are bought..We have friends who have offered to lend us bike cases for the flight..It will get real soon enough I suppose.

In 3 weeks I will be competing in the "Colorado Relay"again with 10 of my buddies. I am the "slow one" here and this year my legs of the trip look easier. Maybe I won't have to be transported off the mountain after vomiting all over the van after suffering from high altitude, dehydration and sleep deprivation. That is my goal...Amazed they wanted me back after that!

November 5th we are off to North Carolina for Beach2Battleship half Ironman triathlon, a prelude to IMWA. ("Eeeemwaaa" is what I am calling the Ironman)..Wilmington, North Carolina is where this race will be held. I am hoping it will be between hurricane season and winter there. 15 of our closest friends will be there and sharing a house and vans. Stay tuned for that adventure unfolding. I am on the planning committee for that one and it sounds like so much fun!!!

Amidst it all, we continue to enjoy retirement, whatever that means. I am so busy and can't get a damn thing done around the house these days although I know not a single person reading this will feel sorry for me!