Tuesday

I feel all around worthless when I don't have anything to do at work. Seriously not ok.

To update...

1. Duathlon was June 20 - finished 4th with a time of 1:26:55. This is a 1 min 3 sec improvement from my time last year.... and I didn't even train as much..weird....though I'm pretty sure that was all time I made up with better transitions. I got 10th overall out of 107 women, and was the youngest of the top 10. But, sadly I was beat by a 56 year old woman...and a 44 year old woman... damn. Anyway, it wasn't my goal to win the duathlon this year... that's a goal for 2011: Gold medal in the 19-29 age group. Unfortunately, that means beating the woman who won my age group AGAIN this year... with a time of 1:20:??. So....somewhere I've got to drop 7 minutes worth of time.

2. Having improved my time in the duathlon I've decided to focus on the bike portion because it's my favorite part. So, in addition to harder/more training I've decided to buy a bike... instead of building one. I would like to eventually build a bike --but  I want to begin training sooner then that will happen. I've been looking a little bit at bikes in the $2,500-$3,500 range. I want a carbon frame....hence the huge amount I'll be spending.

3. Went to CO last weekend to visit Kiley. It was an amazingly fun trip -- I could easily live in CO. We went to the Coors Brewing Co. (which also produces Blue Moon - I totally did not know that), the Tommyknocker Brewery/Restaurant, Wynkoop Brewing Co., camping, rafting, and shopping! Wynkoop definitely has my new favorite beer - a chile beer. SO GOOD. The only problem was breathing - the lungs definitely didn't appreciate my attempted running at 5,700ft above sea level. Here are some rafting pics from our day trip through Royal Gorge on the Arkansas River:

Yeah, there are actually 5 people in there.

Emerging from the rapids!

Our tour guide was very well traveled and grew up on the river.

Big splash!

I can't wait to go again!!!

4. I'm almost half way through my summer course on crafting strategy....and so far I'm struggling. Basically, don't have time to study and reading the book makes me fall asleep. Soo.....it's not good. I'm looking forward to some weekends in the near future filled with studying and massive amounts of caffeine.

Looking forward to:

the CO beer Kiley is bringing me next week
RAGBRAI
a yoga class
running
a new bike
dentist appt on Thursday

blogging is hard...

...because I would rather do almost anything else

So...since March... a lot of great things have happened:

1. I went to Chicago for about 5 days to celebrate St. Pat's Day, see my family, and do some shopping....not in that order. Also saw Brad and Cara while I was there! A few highlights:

My sister with the BEST double dark chocolate gelato EVER. so good Connor ended up eating more of mine then her own...

Amazing chocolate truffle from the tapas restaurant my aunt and uncle took us to.

 Sister pic before hopping on the L to go downtown.

 Saw Cara!!! She had some bad ass wall decor. I want.

With Brad and his girlfriend at the tapas restaurant.








2. I finally got my ass out of the country -- to Ireland and England!!! YES THIS IS ONE OF MY GOALS! 2 DOWN - 19 to go! Obviously, each place deserves a separate post.... so that'll be next. Went with a great friend of mine, Nick -- oh p.s. we decided to go on the trip the very first night we hung out. Would you expect anything less of me? I didn't think so. But, I can't wait to start planning my next trip!!!! I'm thinking....Spain.

3. Duathlon in 12 days.... definitely not ready. I'm getting closer each day.... but thunderstorms in KC are not really helpful when I need to train outside. ...

4. RAGBRAI is at the end of July -- always something I look forward to.

...annnd I'm tired of typing... more later if I find the motivation.

Things I want right now:

to sing
ice cream
blue skies
a guitar
my sister to call me back

Spring, sandals, sleep, sisters

Since last Saturday I have been able to sleep a cumulative 23.5 hours. This averages out to less than 5 hrs/night. Definitely not enough. I arrived home from work today with the intention of taking a 20 minute nap before hitting the gym. Well, 2.5 hours later it was 9PM and I still hadn't eaten dinner or had a workout. I wonder if I was/am tired. That might also explain why I fell asleep during class last night... the class in which I sit in the front row.

Last weekend it was 60F in KC - that is definitely sandals weather. The following are some items, including some sandals, that I want to buy.... but probably will not since I'm trying to buff up the savings some more.

1. Frye, Maya Vintage Stud Sling, Black ($168)

 Slings are so cute. Frye shoes have the most supple leather.... I might have a slight obsession with them.








2. Frye, Dara Honeycomb Sling, Green ($198)


Never had the courage/want/need/confidence to wear shoes this tall and ridiculous - but now I want them!! I love studs... though I would most likely break my ankles/legs or end up accidentally stabbing someone with one of the heels. eek.






3. The $600 solid mahogany guitar I saw in Ames, Iowa. I didn't even attempt to remember who made it because I couldn't spend that much money on a first guitar. The sound was the most beautiful of all the guitars I've played so far (50 or so)....deep, rich, but still vibrant. Want want want!

4. Anthropologie, Craft Knife Lace-ups, Pink ($120), fun


5. Free People, Ruffle Bottom Slip, ($68), lovely
Two years ago I owned 5x more pants then dresses. Now, I have about the same number of each. Finally found my feminine side? Yep, plus I can finally afford to start replacing all those high school threads I was wearing throughout college.

 7. Free People, We the Free Cosmic Symphony Top, sunrise/ivory ($88) sunrise
Too expensive - maybe I'll find it at Von Maur on the sale rack. FINGERS CROSSED.


CHICAGO NEXT WEEK!


Irish Day is next Wednesday - have you purchased your Guinness yet? I'm 40+% Irish, but if you try to kiss me I will punch you. Unless you're Johnny Depp.

Happy sister moments:

Goal 1: Start a blog and make weekly posts

The 1st goal I'm revealing:
 1. Start a blog and make one post each week


....well I had it down for the first week. I've since slacked off. I find myself going in circles about what to post.... as there are a 2340982039850239 and one things I want to say here.


Betrayal is Embarrassing:
When is the betrayal enough to warrant ejecting someone from your life? This is a question I've been pondering for the past 37 hours that I've been awake. I hope I am able to sleep tonight.... no promises.


A story...
Last night after sending a scathing email to two people I deeply care(d) for I decided the best plan of attack would be returning to my sister's dorm. I called a taxi and it was there in 5 minutes flat  (explaining where you are without an address is not fun and there wasn't any mail laying around the residence - good thing Ames is small and I'm observant). During the cab ride I unloaded the sequence of events to the poor, old driver who took pity on me and shared his (clean) handkerchief so I could dab the massive tears and mascara smears. I let him know I would need to stop at an ATM because I didn't have enough cash.  The taxi driver took me directly to my destination and insisted I let him incur the cost of the ride. Obviously, I felt terrible for this and gave him all the cash I had at the time - $6.  I thanked him, returned the hopefully not permanently stained handkercheif and exited the vehicle. Luckily, by that point, the rain had stopped.

(One reason I love small towns in Iowa is for people like that taxi driver. I had never met him before. He did not need to be nice to me - but he was. He certainly did not need to give me the ride at a discounted rate - but he did.)

When I got to my sister's dorm room I was alone and could not sleep. Debated for an hour while packing whether I should just head back to KC right then - it was about 4AM. I decided that might end badly, and also I wanted to hug Connor before I left - she was not home - so I didn't go. By then my emotions had elevated from devastation to anger and I really needed to get rid of some rage. What did I do? I danced.... for an hour.... in Connor's dorm room.... to 'Bedrock' by Young Money & Lloyd. Yep. Not moves that would make me a candidate for "Dancing With the Stars" but still an amazing stress release. I'm surprised the people who live below my sister didn't come upstairs with a shotgun.


Very Favorite Band: Tegan and Sara
--Bought my ticket for the April 2nd show in Kansas City, MO!!! I can't wait.

First Post

First and foremost, I have created this blog to track the progress of a 5 yr plan that I'm currently constructing for the graduate course I'm taking at KU. The course, Personal Development for the Engineering Manager, is focused on interpersonal and written communication skills, presentation skills, and ethics, and meets once a week at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park, KS. Aside from all the homework, I'm really enjoying the content of the course and think it will be very beneficial for my professional career.

In addition to tracking goal progress I will be posting pictures, stories, and events from my life. [Sorry Liz, but I'm going to try to keep the ranting to a minimum.]