Alida, Homeslice, Fireman's 4, Bike Talk

Last night was a super great evening here in Austin. My friend Alida... Our friendship has a funny story....she didn't like me for the first 5 months she knew of me. Then we both go cycle 100 miles in Tahoe, have a few conversations..fast forward a few months when she moves to Chicago and NOW...good buds. I look forward to her frequent trips to Austin!

This time we both set aside the evening to meet up for beers and Pizza..I have realized in the midst of all the Ironman training it is really really good to have the balance of stopping and catching up with life and good people. You gotta stay connected...and not be TURBO all the time with this training.

What makes a perfect evening...

1. Meeting up with a good friend.
2. Pizza at Homeslice. (I am allowed, it's recovery week!!!)
3. Fireman's 4 beer. (if you aren't in TX, and you don't know this, you are missing out)
4. Excellent conversation where I talked Alida into thinking about riding in a tiny 600 mile road race in Paris in 2011. There I said it Alida..you have to do it now!!

Cheers!!

My brother...making the papers

This is my brother and his friends at an Augusta St. basketball game this past Fall. He went there for 1.5 years. He is the S (not that it matters)

this is him again, just a few weeks ago. He now goes to Univ. of GA (GO Dawgs!! he made me write that) He is checking out scores for March Madness. Sadly, GA did not get past the first round.

He is famous!!!

Take me out to the Ballgame!!

March Madness will wrap up this weekend....and so that means it is Baseball season!

I have many memories at baseball games as I grew up going to St. Louis Cardinals games with my Grandfather and then eventually my father.
Fathers and their kids - have been going to baseball games for over a hundred years. I have been blessed to have shared unique opportunities over the course of our 30+ years together.

Baseball has been a continuing thread in my relationship with Dad, even though we have gone through some very difficult times. Sports always seem to briefly re-unite us.

I remember sitting along the first base line and watching a ballgame together. Ate hotdogs. (I don't really ever do this unless at a ballgame) Worried over defensive alignments. Ducked foul balls. And went home happy.

Next week I got tickets to go see the Astros play the Cardinals in Houston. It's the Astros opening game and I will be in the minority as I come decked out in Cardinal gear. Tuesday, April 8th I will travel down to watch a game and pray for a Cardinal Victory! I wish Dad could be there to share it with me, he lives in Georgia...I am in Texas.

Fathers, daughters and baseball. Life might get better than that, but it doesn't have to get much better.

Sleepy Colleen

I am too tired to write anything brilliant on my personal blog...but if you don't read my Training blog, you should check out today's post, cause I had an exciting race yesterday!

I love Triathlon!!

off to Galveston...

My friend Shelley and I are about to leave for Galveston, TX in about an hour. It's time for Lonestar Triathlon....Half Ironman. 70.3 miles tomorrow! I take off at 800 AM. Good thoughts friends, as I wait for damage on my stinkin' car.

Oh well.

Once again, any leads on a hot man that has $$$. I'm just saying.

My car, a dog and Geico...

Yes, I had a bit of an accident last night. Not with a vehicle. I avoided hitting a dog as it ran across the street and then BAM! hopped a curb and my front left tire blew. And as we went to change the tire, we realized....it was more than the tire that was hurt.

Good times.

What really sucks....I called Geico to see what my insurance company would say.."Um, maam, if you would have hit the dog it would have been covered under comprehensive but because you hit the curb, you are not covered."

SERIOUSLY????? Had I HIT and killed the dog and had that engraved in my memory FOREVER, my car would be covered. It is now in the shop, and I am sure it is going to be an outrageous amount. Can I have ONE week without something financially hitting me?

This is not cool. I want to switch from Geico just for this reason.

They apparently want dogs to be hit by cars.

Happy One Year!!

I love my family and I don't get to see them very much. My nephew, Solomon, just turned one. Like any other child he was super excited about the ice cream!!