Race Day Recap: Jack's Generic Tri

I woke up bright and early this morning for the sprint-distance Jack's Generic Tri down at the Texas Ski Ranch. I haven't followed a specific training plan since my last triathlon, so my expectations were minimal. Since I train the distances in the race as a minimum (500m swim, 13.8 mile bike, 3 mile run), I wasn't too worried about being able to finish. But I also didn't want to leave the race feeling like I had done crappy. My ego didn't need that. A good friend said "you can do anything for 1.5 hours" and I tried to keep that in my head throughout the race.

Once the horn blew, I fell into a good rhythm for the swim portion, and ended up finishing with pretty much my fastest pace to date- 2:14. I had a really quick first transition and then found myself peddling a decent clip on the bike. That was, until I hit the first of many hills. They were short hills, and nothing I couldn't handle after lengthier mornings spent on the bike. But they were hills nonetheless. I was really focused on trying to keep up the pace, knowing that it would only take me around 45ish minutes to finish the bike portion, but also didn't want to burn out my legs for the run. It ended up taking 53 minutes at a 15.6 pace. Not quite as fast as other sprints I have done, but faster than the last tri I did. At least there was some improvement.

Another short transition (1:15- a record for me!) and then I was downing a Gu and hitting the pavement for the run. At 9:30 am, the sun was already out in full force and it was pretty darn hot. The run was an out and back on a paved road, and it was pretty much all uphill headed out and downhill coming back. I found a steady pace and kept telling myself "just 28 minutes to go". It ended up being 28:25, but I was really happy with the 9:28 pace. It's not my fastest, but I'll take it.

Overall time was 1 hour and 37 minutes. I was shooting for an even 1:30, but again- not too shabby. There were 48 women in my age group and I placed 14th. The worst part of the day was getting steamrolled by several 40+ women. Those chicks were insanely fast!!! I can only hope that I am in half their shape when I reach that age. But I left the race feeling like I had done a good job, and that was all that mattered to me.

This was my first time to do this particular race, and I will for sure be going back. The course was decent, the race was well organized (as all High Five Events are), and the after party was stellar. Beer, burgers and ice cream cones, plus plenty of freebies from some decent vendors. And of course, plenty of eye candy. After all, that's half the reason I keep going back for more!

There are 5 weeks until my next tri, another Olympic distance. I have got to get my stuff together and get myself ready for it. I'm feeling ok about the bike, but I need to put together a new training schedule to make sure that I feel comfortable for the swim and run. There's no relief in sight for the heat, so it looks like a few early runs in the morning, and some swims in the afternoon. I'm struggling with feeling the need to be home for Pippi, but also to get the exercise in that I'm accustomed to doing. I'm sure I'll find a way to make it happen, I just need to get myself organized.

Don't Give Up

I couldn't have said this any better myself. The article not only applies to me, but many of my single girlfriends who are going through the same things too. Go read the below article and Don't. Give. Up.

Online Dating 101: Online dating is just.....dating

Another one bites the dust....

Always trust your gut! Mine was telling me this week that something just wasn't right with Oliver. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I just felt it. My off feelings were right when I got a text last night that said "Can you talk tonight?" I had not heard from him since I saw him on Saturday, and knew immediately it would not be the talk I wanted to hear.

I was out with my new Trailer Friends when I got the text. Part of me wanted to stay longer and enjoy the great night we were having. And another part of me just wanted to get it over with. Two of my girlfriends gave me hugs and sent me on my way. Oliver called, didn't really know where to start, and the conversation was pretty brief. The last thing he said was that he couldn't imagine not talking to me. I told him that I really wasn't interested in just "being friends". I wanted more, and since it's clear that he doesn't, it just seems pointless to me to stay in touch.

The short story- yes, he really liked me when we first met. For whatever reason though, those feelings weakened as the weeks went by. End of story. It just plain sucks. I have been in his position plenty of times though. You meet someone and things seem awesome at the beginning. And then you get to know them more and it doesn't seem to be as great a fit as you first envisioned. It's never fun having to relay that message to the other person. And it's certainly not fun being on the receiving end either.

Not going to lie, I'm totally bummed. There were many, many things that I liked about him, and I really hoped that over time we would have the chance to pursue a relationship. That's obviously not going to happen. I cried last night, and I have teared up a little bit today, but I need to just move on. Funny timing with the post I wrote yesterday, huh?

If it weren't for my awesome family, friends and extracurricular hobbies, I would be in worse shape. But I work hard at making sure my life is great without someone in it, and I know I will be fine. I'm not giving up hope that one day I will meet the person who just fits. Wish it wasn't so much work to find him, but I know he's out there.

Filling My Funnel, take 8,639

I first wrote about Filling Your Funnel here, and I'm doing my best right now to go back and read my own advice. Another girlfriend has recently re-entered the dating world and was joking about going back and reading all my posts with advice for online dating. I think I need to be doing the same. I know that the situation with Oliver is causal at best (this particular week it feels non-existent). What that means is that I need to stop putting all my effort into this one thing, and keep other options open. I've said that was what I was going to do, but I haven't been doing it. Really, I've just been hiding behind other activities. And that's ok.

For whatever reason, this particular week I'm feeling down over the lack of communication on Oliver's end (and by lack of, I mean zero), and I need to take control of the situation and not let that happen. I know that right now he needs to be spending his time doing things for himself and his daughter, and that I am a very small factor is his equation. I actually read a sweet story the other day about a couple who "dated" for about 7 months before actually becoming exclusive, only to get engaged a year after, and now are almost married. I would like to think that that could be my happy ending, but I know better than to count on it. That is an exception, not a rule.

So, I'll put myself back out there (in the real and the online world) and just be patient and see what happens. No more letting it bring me down. If I'm not being proactive, then I only have myself to blame. Pity party is over.

Roller-Coaster Weekend

Life as a foster (dog) mom is so rewarding, but I learned a lesson this weekend that it can also be very difficult. I lucked out in that I got one of the sweetest dogs on earth. She has been such a great houseguest and I really love having her around. She has her issues though, and that is going to be the challenge in finding just the right home for her.

In my home, she is very low energy (she sleeps A LOT), is about 98% house-trained (as long as she gets enough potty breaks), and leaves my cats alone. Given her size, she makes a really great fit for me. Her main problem is the fact that she has had no exposure to socializing with other dogs. You can't fault her for that, but she needs someone knowledgable and patient enough to work on this with her. I'm willing to start, and am hoping that I can put together a plan that will make her more adopter-friendly.

I thought I had found the perfect family for her on Saturday. The couple drove in to meet her, and decided a few hours later that they wanted to take her. They have another dog at home and were slightly concerned about introducing the two, but they seemed committed to making it work. We discussed the best way to handle it and I really thought we were on the same page. I was teary-eyed when I said goodbye, but I just knew it was going to be a great fit.

Later that evening I got a text from them saying that the initial meetings weren't going to so well. I reminded them that it takes time (sometimes weeks, but certainly more than a few hours.) I asked them to keep me posted. I won't go into all the details, but they basically said they just didn't think it was a good fit, and wanted to bring her back to me. I cried. I was just so sad for this sweet dog who has really had some crappy luck these past couple of months. She just doesn't deserve it. But when he dropped her off and her tail was wagging, I knew it was my job to make her feel better.

We had some quiet snuggle time, with Pippi next to me and my cat on my lap. Plenty of treats, several walks, and even a trip to Petco. It ended up being a great afternoon for all of us. Fingers are crossed that this week goes well with her extended unsupervised days. I had to abandon crating her- it was extremely stressful for her and the only time that I have seen her be destructive. So she has free roam of my bedroom and living area. I am lucky to have some friends helping out this week with potty visits and housesitting (I'm housesitting for my parents for two nights.) I'm just going to have to take it all one day at a time. I committed to helping this dog and I'm not going to stop until I find a great place for her to be.

Even though I'm spending a lot of time with Pippi, I have found time for social activities. I took her with me to get a beer with some friends on Friday night, and it was so fun having her. She does well around other people and is generally well behaved when out in public. She's also a bit of a dude-magnet! Will definitely have to plan some more outings.

On Saturday night I went with Oliver to one of the funnest adult birthday parties I have ever attended. It was a 30th birthday, and the birthday girl's husband went all out. Slip & Slide, bouncy castle, snow cone machine with adult-flavors, karaoke, pinatas...it was awesome! My friends really liked Oliver and he was an easy guest to have along- no babysitting required. Things are still going really well with him and I am handling the "taking it slow" so much better. We talk a few times a week and see each other once (maybe twice). He has had his daughter quite a bit lately, and I'm pretty sure that he is not seeing anyone else. But I think he's getting the time he needs for himself, and hopefully that will lead to eventually wanting more time with me.

Meanwhile though, life is good and I can't complain. I think puppy love looks good on me.

Pippi and I at the shelter 

Trailer Friends

The trailer food scene is Austin is something ridiculous. It seems like each week a new trailer pops up somewhere, complete with a catchy name and delicious food. I have been wanting to try so many of them, but for whatever reason, it never makes my to-do list. Well, last week my friend Erin sent along an invitation to join a Meetup group at the East 6th Trailer Park & Eatery. With trailers such as Pig Vicious, Bits and Druthers and Love Balls, how could I say no?

Turns out that the name of the Meetup group is Trailer Friends, and pretty much each week they get together to try out a new trailer. Awesome idea, right? I first wrote about Meetup here, but have mainly used it for triathlon training. It's been great, and I've met some nice people, but I really like the idea of it being more social as well.

Some of the upcoming meetups include locations like Three Little Pigs and Along Came a Slider and I can't wait to join. The group of people at the last meetup were really nice and a lot of fun. I always look forward to having something different to do. No matter what town you're in, check out the Meetup site. Do something, Learn something, Share something, Change something.

Pippi

I have been a volunteer at the Town Lake Animal Center for 2 1/2 years. Some days it's hard to believe that it has been that long, and it's even harder to believe that I have lasted this long without bringing a dog home. Up until last November, I knew it would be impossible to do so given how often I traveled for work. Once I changed jobs though, I knew it increased the likelihood of adding another pet to my home.

Well, I seem to have fallen in love with one special pup at the shelter. She honestly is the first one that I have given serious consideration to adopting. Given the size of my apartment, plus two cats and about 10 hours away from home each day (just for work), I know that it's not the best situation to bring a dog into. But...just look at this face.

It doesn't get much sweeter than that. Meet Pippi- one very special dog. She's had a rough life, from what we can gather so far. She came to the shelter as a stray, shy, timid dog who would drop to her belly if you tried to leash and walk her. Through the work of some really dedicated volunteers, she has made leaps and bounds during her 70+ stay there. She is not perfect though. She is heartworm positive and currently on treatment, which means her exercise must be severely limited until she gets a clean bill of health. She also needs someone with a great deal of patience to help her come out of her shell and to get her true personality to shine. But there is something about her that just draws me in. I'm smitten.

Pippi has stayed at my house for several nights now, and I am currently listed as the "last resort" contact should she be pulled for euthanization. I refuse to let that happen to this sweet dog. I am trying my hardest to find a good home for her. Please help by passing along the word to anyone you think may be interested. It's probably best that she goes to a home that does not have cats, though so far she has gotten along with mine.

Please feel free to contact me if you need any more information.

Salad Toppers: Pickled Red Onions

I typically make salads every day for lunch. It's easy because I portion out the greens (usually spinach or mixed field greens) into tupperware containers on Sunday so that I can just grab in the morning and go. The problem is that week after week of eating a lettuce/tomato/bell pepper salad gets really old.

Our office has a nice cafe, and the cafe has a really fabulous salad bar. For just $4, you can get about 8 ounces of ingredients to mix in with your lettuce and dressing of choice. I realize this is a bargain, but even that adds up after awhile. So instead, I'm using that salad bar as an inspiration to make one extra "salad topper" a week to liven up my own salads. It's also a good way to mix up the veggies that I eat each day/week.

There was a left-over red onion that needed to be used, so I decided to start with Pickled Red Onions. Talk about easy- I had these knocked out in about 20 minutes, with ingredients I had on hand, and they turned out delicious.

Pickled Red Onions

1 red onion
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 tsp salt
water

Halve the onion, peel it, and slice thin. I used my mandolin for this.

Blanch the onions in a saucepan of boiling water for one minute. Drain in a colander.

Return the onions to the now empty saucepan. Pour in cider, salt and just enough water to barely cover the onions. I also added a pinch of sugar and some ground celery seed for taste. Bring to a boil for one minute.

Pour contents into a glass container and store in refrigerator for a few weeks. Bonus- they look really pretty in the fridge, too!

Holy Bacon Pralines

Sunday afternoon I had my much anticipated cookbook club get together. Summers are always hard as most of us seem to have a lot going on, so we don't get together as often as usual. We had already postponed the meeting once, but I was really, really looking forward to the meal. I didn't have a chance to cook anything from it until this weekend, but I just knew it was going to be phenomenal. My girls did not disappoint.

Our book for this go around was Screened Doors and Sweet Tea, a good 'ole southern cookbook. We always try to pick something different from previous selections. After 2+ years, I'm still surprised that we can find interesting books. This cookbook is really pretty, and I really didn't have anything like it in my collection, so I was happy to buy it. I spent Friday afternoon perusing recipes and decided that I would make several things to contribute. The majority of the menu had already been planned:

Blackberry Limeade
Chile Lime Skirt Steak
Green Chile Cheese Rice
Lemon Icebox Pie

I thought long and hard about how to fill in the blanks and decided on 3 Day Slaw (a vinegar based, and really delicious cole slaw), Pecan Blue Cheese Bread, and........Buttermilk Bacon Pralines. Seriously. The second I read the name, I knew I had to make them. The cookbook touts them as "a true amuse-bouche." Who am I to argue with that?

Unfortunately for me, I didn't really follow the instructions exactly (something you should always do when making any type of candy.) Everything was going just fine, and when I added butter, orange zest and bacon to the candy mixture, I wanted to die. The smell was unlike anything I have ever experienced. Words simply cannot do it justice. Just go out, buy the ingredients, and experience it for yourself. You won't be sorry. It wasn't until I started pouring out the little praline drops that I realized there might be a problem. And after 45 minutes, when none of them had firmed, I knew I had a praline FAIL. Not a total fail though, because licking off those little rounds was still a little bit of heaven. Overall it was just a stellar meal. If you're looking for a fun, slightly traditional cookbook, I highly recommend this one! It's the perfect excuse for inviting people over.

Buttermilk Bacon Pralines


1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 T light corn syrup
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp kosher salt
4 T (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1.2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 tsp grated orange zest
4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled (use good quality bacon)

In a heavy-bottomed, deep saucepan, combine both sugars, buttermilk, corn syrup, baking soda and salt.
Cook slowly over medium heat for about 20 minutes, until the mixture reaches 235 degrees F on a candy thermometer. (Seriously- she means cook it for 20+ minutes, even if you hit that temp sooner.)

Remove from the heat and add the butter, vanilla, pecans, orange zest and bacon. Being mindful of exposed skin as the mixture is very hot, beat like the dickens with a wooden spoon until smooth and creamy. (Yes, the book really says "like the dickens". Told you it was southern.)

Drop by teaspoonful (not any bigger), onto parchment or Silpat lined cooking sheets. Let stand for 30 minutes, or until cool and firm. Store in an airtight container.

Meeting the Friends

Oliver invited me to watch the World Cup game with him on Sunday. Since I had to be up north later that afternoon, it made sense for us to go somewhere in his neighborhood. He picked The Park at The Domain. The owner is a client and I guess he hangs out there every now and then. At first I was skeptical because the girls I were seeing in the parking lot were all kinds of skanked out for a Sunday. The singles crowd in North Austin is known to have a certain reputation, and these girls were the epitome of it. But once we got inside, I loved it. No doubt there was some stellar people watching. But there were also a ton of hot guys. If I had been there with some girlfriends, we would have been all over it.

I guess The Park is known for its Sunday brunch with 5-flavor mimosas and a build your own bloody mary bar. The place was packed, and I don't think I've ever seen so many bottles of champagne being opened. Lucky for us, two of his friends snagged a space at the bar with an extra seat, so I was able to sit with Oliver standing just next to me. Throughout the game, he would put his hand on my shoulder or back, or play with the ends of my hair. It was cute and affectionate without being too much. I loved it. I'd like to think that it's a good sign that he introduced me to his friends. Two were guys who he gets together to watch sports with, and a few others he plays volleyball with from his church. It was loud and kind-of hard to talk so it wasn't like I got to spend too much time with them, but still.

Unfortunately I had to leave before the game ended (not that it was a good outcome to see). I got a little kiss and a "let's get together soon" before taking off. I know he was feeling down since he son left that morning, but I was glad that he had planned ahead to see me. Hopefully I was able to cheer him up some. Not sure what out next date will be, but I'm looking forward to it.

Song of the Day: U2- All I Want is You

Way back in January I wrote a post about Love Songs. I was short on inspiration, and did my best to put together a list of my top 5 "love songs". Thanks to my David Gray Pandora channel today (perfect selection of low-key songs), I would like to amend it and add one more. Or if I can't add one more, I would swap this for Patience.Seriously, I don't know how I missed this one. Great song.

Life's Better Outside

Yesterday  morning I woke up way too early to join the Bicycle Sport Shop Tres Burrito Ride. I chose the "Go the distance" option because I have been wanting to up my mileage. 50-ish miles is the longest ride I have done until now. For the first part of the ride, I was behind a cute couple in matching jerseys with the words "Life's Better Outside" on the back. They were probably in their mid 40's and just seemed so happy to be out riding together. At one point, the wife reached over and patted him on the butt. It was ridiculously cute. That phrase "Life's Better Outside", and seeing that cute couple, prompted a lot of thinking. When you ride your bike for 4+ hours, that leaves you with plenty of time to think about a lot of different things!

First, it was a gorgeous morning. Austin got just the tiniest bit of early morning rain, and it lowered the temperature a little and provided much needed cloud coverage to protect my fair skin. It almost felt like early fall for a good majority of the ride. How lucky for us to get to spend the morning enjoying the weather on pretty scenic roads just outside of town. It was invigorating, for sure.

Second, it obviously led to me thinking about Oliver, but also the things that I want out of a relationship as well. I would love to be able to spend a Saturday morning alongside my partner (but not in matching jerseys), talking or just enjoying each other's company while getting in a bit of exercise. It could have been a run, a hike, a whatever. But to be out in the fresh air always makes me feel good. Thinking through all that is going on right now also affirmed that I think I'm approaching things the right way. Thankfully it's getting easier to keep a casual mindset about the whole situation. At least I had a good friend with me on the ride (we had our own good conversation), as well as a few other people I have ridden with before. That companionship was just as nice to have as someone in a matching jersey.

Third, it renewed my desire to keep up with my training. The heat has really done a number on me this summer and it has been very hard to keep up the level of exercise I was doing leading up to my last race. It has been discouraging, to say the least. I was nervous about being able to do a ride this long, but my body had no problem with it (other than just being ridiculously tired afterwards). It definitely provided a boost to my confidence- one of the reasons I keep coming back for more! I don't know that I can keep up with running like I was, but I really enjoy the peaceful feeling that comes along with a good bike ride. I wonder if there are duathlons just for swimming and biking? If not.....I'm on it!

So- get outside. Do something active. Breathe in some fresh air and get your body moving. If you're ever feeling down at all, I promise this will help. Life's Better Outside.

GNO

I have a group of friends who started planning GNO (Girl's Night Out) a few months ago, and it has been so much fun! We do our best to plan an event one night a month. I haven't gotten to make all of them, but I really look forward to it. Last night we got together at Embellish, a super cute nail salon, for a little pampering. If you live in Austin and haven't been yet, you must check it out. This was my first visit and I loved it. At just $35 (plus a generous tip) for a pedicure, I will definitely be going back.

The sweet lady who was brave enough to touch my feet (they were in bad shape) called me by name and did such a meticulous job polishing my toes. They look fantastic! They seat you in a comfortable arm chair, drape you with a warm neck wrap, offer a drink (including wine) and play girly movies on a flat screen. The salon is all decked out in chandeliers and pink, without being too obnoxious. They also have a great selection of purses, jewelry, shoes and trinkets that make for great gifts. Whether you are by yourself or with some friends, I highly recommend it.

Afterwards, we walked over to Sago for dinner, another place I had not been to before. The menu is awesome, but the happy hour is what will take me back there. They had $5.50 Mexican Martinis last night,  and a great selection of appetizers ranging from $4-7. I ordered the brisket tacos and they were delicious. Even at full price, it was still a good deal. Nice atmosphere, terrific service...another big recommendation if you are ever in The Triangle area.

Patience is a Virtue

I think I'm making a little bit of progress in this "taking things slow" thing with Oliver. PMS caused a minor set-back when I freaked out over not hearing from him for 2 1/2 days, but I'm much better now. I don't know a single girl who doesn't struggle with wanting to know where you stand with a guy (particularly one you are very interested in), so I'm trying hard not to beat myself over this too much. Patience, patience, patience.

I knew that I would not be hearing from him much at all this week, but he did send a short "hope you're having a good week" text yesterday, and he actually called at lunchtime today just to say hi. It has been a rough week for him, and I appreciate him reaching out to me. His son leaves on Sunday, so I'm not expecting to see him until early next week.

The breakthrough for me was when I realized that this whole situation is making me feel vulnerable, and because of that, I am acting insecure. I have worked too damn hard these past 8 or so years to be acting that way, so I'm nipping it in the bud right now. I'm going to stay busy and occupied with other things, and keep reminding myself that it takes time to get to know someone before making quick decisions about relationships. At any given time, either myself or Oliver can decide that something about the other just isn't going to work. So I'm not letting a strong attraction to him override the "getting to know you" stage.

He did say some things in a recent conversation that I really respected though. He confirmed that he likes me, thinks I'm a lot of fun to be around, and is obviously very attracted to me (his words, not mine.) He said what is most important right now though is that he is with me for the right reasons, not just because I make him feel good during this rough time. He said that he has a history of rushing into relationships and wants to get it right the next time. I think it's a good thing that he is acknowledging that and being honest about it. We're making baby steps, and I like that we can communicate so easily with each other, without it getting too serious.

So- I've got a few fun things on tap for this weekend, but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Oliver again soon. Until then, I will be volunteering (and fostering a dog at night- a sweet boxer mix named Pippi), going on a 70 mile ride with some new friends, seeing my adorable niece, and getting together with some girlfriends for what will surely be a fabulous southern meal thanks to our latest Cookbook Club selection, Screen Doors and Sweet Tea.

I'll leave you with another quote I saw recently. I think it sums up perfectly why I'm willing to keep putting myself out there. I truly believe that one day, something good will come my way.

"Love comes to those who still hope after disappointment,

who still believe after betrayal,

and who still love after they've been hurt. "

Pookie Bear

A funny thing happened last night. I met up with a few girlfriends to grab a drink or two, and I recognized someone from match.com at the bar we were at. This is not the first time it has happened, but I think it's the first time I actually said something to the person. I have pretty decent facial recognition, so I was fairly confident that I was right. Also, this guy happened to have a really funny screen name that made him stand out among the rest. We had exchanged an email or two several months ago, but nothing ever came of it. I pulled up this guy's profile to have my friends confirm if they thought it was him, and they all agreed. They also thought he was really cute, and that at least one of us should go talk to him.

Not being one to be shy, I walked right up to him and said "This is going to sound like the worst line ever, but are you by chance Pookie Bear?" He smiled and said yes. Could not have been more relieved to have been right on that one. Can you imagine if it was not him? I still can't believe I uttered the words Pookie Bear in public. I sat next to him and we chatted for a bit, and thankfully he explained why he chose that as his screen name (dumb story about a college nickname). But as we were talking, all that came to mind was the following conversation from the movie Clueless:

Tai  : Do you think she's pretty? 
Cher  : No, she's a full-on Monet. 
Tai  : What's a monet? 
Cher  : It's like a painting, see? From far away, it's OK, but up close, it's a big old mess. Let's ask a guy. Christian, what do you think of Amber? 
Christian  : Hagsville. 
Cher  : See? 


I wouldn't go so far to say that he was hagsville, but up close he just wasn't that impressive. His teeth were all jacked up, and his personality was kind-of goofy (and not in the endearing way). I finally said "It was nice meeting you" and went along my way. It was hard to tell my friends about the exchange because my seat was facing him, and he was only about 20 feet away. He finally left (I got a slight nod from him on his way out, but that was it) and I filled them in. Obviously there was no interest from either side, but I'm proud of myself for at least going up to say hi. (That was for you, mom.)

An Adventure of a Lifetime

Unfortunately, this post isn't about MY adventure. It's about that of my friend Sarah. She decided several months ago to do something big. Big, like go to work for a non-profit in Amman, Jordan where women can go to learn English and basic job skills. She is living with a host family, and her adventures so far have been addicting. I wake up every morning hoping for a new blog post. She includes pictures and really great detail about a day in the life of Jordanians. If you are at all interested in knowing what it's like to be immersed in a most foreign culture, then you should really check out her blog. When she gets back, I will totally be going to visit so that she can cook me an authentic meal!

A Date on the Lake

After my bike mishap on Saturday morning, I was a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to paddle myself around for a few hours. Not wanting to cancel though, I sucked it up and ended up having a great time. Oliver came to pick me up around 1:00 and we headed out to Steiner Ranch for our SUP ATX adventure on Lake Austin. There are multiple places in town where you can do this, but I really liked the location he chose.

Since we're both so pale, we doused ourselves in sunscreen in preparation for 3 hours on the water (with hardly any shade in sight). The guy gave us a 2 second lesson on how to do it, and we were on our way. We started off just sitting or kneeling, getting a feel for the board and balancing while paddling. Once we got out of the heavy boat traffic, we both took a stab at standing, and we both quickly fell down. With boats zipping around you, it's hard to avoid the waves. They got the best of us a few times. But once we got the hang of it, it was so much fun!!!  Being in the water with a little breeze made it bearable to be outside this time of year.

I would paddle board every week if it would make me look like this.

We made our way upstream and mainly just talked. It was nice. Most of it was silly/casual conversation, but we also talked a little about the things that are going on in his life right now. His son leaves next weekend, so I know it's going to be a rough week for him. Overall, it was just a fun, relaxing time. By the end of 3 hours though, we were starving. I threw out the idea of hamburgers, and he thought of Ski Shores. It's a cute little hamburger place right on the lake. Neither one of us had been in years, and had no idea that it was under new ownership, and a lot nicer. Still had great atmosphere, and awesome burgers. We chatted more and had fun people watching. As the burgers and beer settled in, we both started getting pretty tired. He dropped me off and hung out for a bit, but left around 8:30 to meet his son for some X-box gaming. (boys!) 

This was such a fun date though, and one of my favorite parts about it was that we were both doing something new together. It was a memorable afternoon, and I'm looking forward to whatever our next adventure is. I came across this quote yesterday and think it pretty much sums up what my attitude needs to be regarding whatever is going on with Oliver:

"Don't cry over the past, it's gone. Don't stress about the future, it hasn't arrived. Live in the present and make it beautiful."

Road Rash

I have been riding a bike for about 5 1/2 years now, with no serious accidents to speak of. (knock on wood) Yesterday, however, I acquired my very first road rash, all by my own stupid fault. I was trying to knock out a 35-40  mile ride, in anticipation of a 70 mile ride I'm signed up to do next weekend. I got up early to beat the heat, and was feeling good. Not quite half way through my ride, it felt like my back tire had gone flat. I turned around to look, and sure enough- it was flat. As I turned back forward, I over corrected and my front tire nailed the curb, causing me to go sailing into a combo of rocks and dirt. I took the brunt of the fall on my right should and butt cheek. Ouch. Luckily, I wasn't that hurt, and no one saw (thank goodness).

I was a little bit shaken up, but was able to hobble a mile to my parent's house to fix up my tire and regroup. After I aired back up, I was getting back on my bike and promptly fell on my left side. I had left my chain in a big gear and just didn't put enough power on the pedal for the short incline. I hate the freak-out feeling you get when you know you aren't going to be able to clip out in time. I felt like such an idiot. But I went on my way, only to flat again a few miles down the road. I gave up, and called my dad for a ride home. It was just not my day to be on the bike.

After cleaning off my shoulder and changing clothes, I decided I wasn't going to let the morning be a total waste. So I sunscreened up again and took off from my apartment for a long run. I made it for 4 miles, and walked the rest of the way back. The heat is just too much, and now I'm starting to question if I'm going to be able to survive another Olympic tri in September. I'm trying so hard to keep up with training, but my body can only do so much in the heat.

Sleeping last night wasn't fun as I kept rolling over onto my right side. I woke up this morning and it's pretty bruised and a little swollen. At least it didn't affect my range of motion all that much though. Eh- at least I feel like a true cyclist now.

Fun Weekend on Tap

I don't know about you, but this 4 day week was the slowest. week. ever. It's dead at work as most of my districts are on vacation, and that never helps. But hey- it's Friday!!! I'm volunteering right after work, and then meeting up with a girlfriend who I haven't seen in far too long! Last time I saw her she was pregnant and on bed rest in the hospital. Tonight, we will celebrate friendship over a few margaritas at one of our favorite places, Trudy's. I have an early morning bike ride (need to do at least 30 miles), so I won't feel too guilty about doing some carb loading via a basket of chips and salsa.

Continuing on with my weekend of fun, I will be going SUP boarding with Oliver on Saturday afternoon. We had already made plans to do dinner, but he sent a text on Wednesday asking how much of my time pre-dinner he could have. I didn't know what he was up to, but I said I was available after 12. I was thrilled when he texted back what we would be doing. A Living Social deal had gone out that morning, and I was still contemplating getting it because it was something I had been wanting to try since the craze hit Austin. Big points to him for beating me to it. As he said "It just had our name written all over it." Agreed.

After that, I think we might be hitting up the Circle Brewing Epic Open House for the release of their 4th brew. The Peached Tortilla will be there serving food (yum), and it should be a good time. I imagine we'll be exhausted after all that, but it should be a fun day.

No idea what Sunday will bring, just know that I need to get in a run and a swim. My next tri is quickly approaching (July 31st). It's just a sprint, but I still want to be in good shape for it. Anyone else doing something fun this weekend?

My First Love

It's hard to forget your first love. Mine came a little early in life, second grade to be exact. Scotty was his name. He was my very first friend at a brand new school and I thought he was absolutely perfect. We played on the playground every day, and even had our own "horsy" game where he would get on all fours and I would ride around on his back. Oh, those were the days. Unfortunately, we went to separate schools for 3rd and 4th grade. We still talked on the phone and even went on two "dates" during that time- an afternoon at TCBY, and then another day at Mr. Gattis, followed by a walk around my neighborhood.

As luck would have it, we were reunited at the same school in 5th grade, and we quickly became an  official couple when he asked me to "go with him". It was love. But sadly, Scotty soon became distracted by all of the other cute girls at my school, and within a few weeks, I was tragically cast aside. I'll never forget his new girlfriend coming up to me, telling me that it was over. I spent the evening crying in the bathtub.

Our relationship was never the same, though we remained friendly through high school. I have seen Scotty off and on since. He is into triathlon and I'll occasionally run by him on the trail. He is as handsome as ever. He's married though, and has two adorable kids, of course.

Well, Tuesday morning I decided to run from my apartment instead of driving to the trail. I crossed over the highway and ran into the neighborhood that I grew up in. It's always fun taking a trip down memory lane. I love thinking about my old neighbors, and all the boys that my sister and I had crushes on. Since it was pretty early, I literally rolled out of bed, threw my hair into a ponytail, and hit the pavement. Cute, I was not.

So imagine my horror as I'm running down the street and see the outline of what looks to be a fit, young guy headed my way. And that horror quickly turned to panic when I realized it was none other than Scotty himself. There was nowhere to hide. I had to suck it up, smile and say hi. I can't believe he recognized me, but he said hi back and called me by name. My heart melted, even though I wanted to die a little on the inside. I think I will forever have a crush on that guy.

Who was your first love/crush? Do you ever think about him/her and wonder what could have been?

A Great 4th of July Weekend That Ended With A Crash

I hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday weekend. Mine was a little different from last year's, but overall still a lot of fun. No fireworks this year (at least not of the pyrotechnic kind) due to the drought, so it really didn't feel a lot like the 4th. Hopefully next year will be different. I already wrote about my date, but other than that, there were plenty of other activities on my schedule:

exercise
hair appointment
shopping with my mom (found some super cute things at Ann Taylor Loft)
housewarming party with some amazing food and great people
hot dogs/hamburgers/mojitos by the pool
volunteering
more exercise
a few naps

And then, to top of such a fun weekend, my dad backed into my car. Crunch. I ran over to their house to help move a TV for my dad to return. He was preoccupied when pulling out of the garage and never even saw it. Bummer. Both brand new cars (his only a few weeks old) suffered reasonable damage, and he felt absolutely horrible about it. Like my mom said, it's nothing a little scotch tape can't fix. It's just a car, and that's why we have insurance. Just kind-of a pain having to take it in to get fixed.

Yes, that is tape holding my bumper up.

My Surprise Date Night

So after having a talk with Oliver earlier in the week, he asked about my schedule for the weekend and when we might be able to get together. With his mother in town, he didn't want to leave her too much, but wanted to see me. I told him I was free on Friday night, and he asked if he could surprise me. Uh, yes please. I have often been the one who takes charge of planning dates, so it's really nice to have someone else make the effort for a change. Not that I mind planning, but it makes me feel special that he enjoys thinking of things that I would enjoy doing. So far, he's 2 for 2.

I resisted the urge to ask questions all week, and really enjoyed the anticipation of date night. It took forever for Friday to roll around. He needed to eat dinner with his family, which was perfect because it allowed me to meet a few girlfriends for happy hour after work. I picked the place the my cute neighbor owns (hey, it's a cool restaurant!) After a couple of drinks and their delicious meat and cheese-filled bread, we went on to our respective plans. I just happened to run into cute neighbor on my way out. Love that he remembers my name.

Anyway, I got home with enough time to freshen up and change into a really cute dress that I found at Nordstrom Rack for $20. Yes, 20 freaking dollars. It's a beautiful turquoise blue with a fun ruffle at the top.  Not too dressy, and really comfortable for warm weather. Since I wasn't sure what we were doing, I thought it would be appropriate for most occasions. He arrived promptly at 9 and we headed downtown. I'll admit that I peeked at the music calendar online just to see if anything stood out. I figured since we were getting a late start, that we would most likely be going to hear a band. One show seemed a likely choice, and indeed- that is the one he picked. The Scabs were playing at Antone's (they are one of Bob Schneider's bands) and I always love hearing them. It's a fun (and crazy) show, and I thought it was a nice contrast to the more romantic drive-in movie date the week before.

We had plenty of time to kill before the show, so we went to a bar across the street for a drink and conversation. He filled me in on his mom's visit so far and we talked about our weeks in general as we really didn't talk/text much during the week. The night before our date, he had sent a text asking if it was Friday yet. I loved that he was looking forward to it, too. I think we both had a little of the nervous/giddy feeling you have when you're with someone new and excited to be there. By the time we made it back across the street for the show, I was definitely feeling more relaxed and comfortable just being with him. He held my hand as we crossed the street, and a little longer while we waited in line. Hand-holding is often underrated, in my opinion. I think it's a really sweet gesture and I like that he enjoys doing it.

The show did not disappoint. Bob was in usual form- glassy eyed and seemingly grumpy about life in general. He played some of the usual songs, but a few that I hadn't heard as much before. Oliver enjoyed the show, singing and dancing along, and overall it was just a lot of fun. Listening to music with someone new can often be a strange experience. I've been to shows with people before who come across as really uptight. It can often ruin the whole night. Add another check in the pro column for Oliver- likes live music.

I had not eaten much before our date, so on the way home we stopped at a food trailer that I have really been wanting to try, The Peached Tortilla. It consistently gets raves reviews, but it moves around some and I can just never seem to get over there. We tried two different sliders (bahn mi and brisket) and some pimiento cheese fries. After dancing and a few beers, it totally hit the spot.

It was super late by the time we got back to my place. He said it felt weird with his mom being back home and not wanting to get back too late, even though he's a grown-up, and it's his house. She grilled him pretty good before he left (she knew he was going on a date, and was really excited for him) but did the usual motherly thing and told him to be careful. We had another great goodnight kiss, and he was on his way. He followed up with a text the next day saying how much fun he had with me, and that I had been on his mind all day. I know the feeling.

One date at a time, though. I have got to keep thinking like that! His mom is in town through mid-week, and then he's gone for a couple of days for a business trip. We haven't made plans for our next date, but I'm sure I will probably see him next weekend. There is just something about this guy and the way that I feel when I'm with him. It's hard not to think about him a lot. But, I'll stay busy this week with a few get togethers with friends and more tri training. I let him take the lead with contacting me, and he always does. One date at a time.

I Heart Surprises

I have always loved being surprised. The hard part is being able to pull one off without me knowing about it. The second I get even a hint that something is being planned behind my back, I am usually relentless in trying to find out the details. My sister and best friend planned a surprise party for me on my 30th birthday and I think they were ready to cancel the whole thing because I bugged them so much just trying to figure out the plan.

So, lucky me in that I have a "surprise" date tonight. I think I deserve a huge pat on the back for not trying to find out what we're doing. I figured I might as well just enjoy someone taking the initiative to plan it, and not pester them about it. Who is the date with? Oliver, of course. This is probably surprising after my rant the other day about how boys are stupid. I still stand by that. But what I haven't had a chance to write about is the talk I had with him that night. Partial thanks to my friend Erin for the comment she left about Oliver being a totally different person from Frans. There's no doubt about that. I haven't seen even a hint of selfishness in his personality, and I think that was the root of all evil in my relationship with Frans.

We had a fairly candid talk that night (as candid as you can be for only going on a few dates with a person). I expressed my concern over whether or not he was truly ready to start dating. I'll spare you all the details, but basically he said yes, he's totally ready to start dating. The end of his marriage is not a factor in being able to move on, because it has basically been over for years. What he was not expecting was the decision that his son has made. That has hurt more than anything. He said he did not want to be going on dates that centered around such heavy conversations- that just wasn't what he envisioned when he thought about putting himself out there. I get that. But you can't help that life happens, and it's not always pretty.

He said that he had really enjoyed getting to know me thus far, and wants to continue spending time with me. His words are followed up by his actions, and he continually does some really sweet and thoughtful things. (Small gestures can go so far.) He is definitely wanting to take thing slowly though. I'm ok with that. What it really means though is that I need to take control of the situation. Appropriately enough, I was reading a chapter last night in You Lost Him at Hello about cutting to the close. Basically, she says that girls too often try to define a relationship way earlier than we should. The first few months should be all about taking the time to get to know someone before you decide that you even want to date them. I think that's a reasonable mindset for this situation.

This is what I know (and like) about him so far, and what motivates me to want to learn more:
*he seems to have a strong character, and has made some decisions regarding his family that prove it
*he's thoughtful- I appreciate that he likes to plan fun things for us to do, or says sweet things that make me feel good
*he's active- runs, plays volleyball and generally just enjoys staying fit
*overall he's well-rounded and has a good balance of working hard and still enjoying life
*he's adorable- red-headed and freckled (not a look for everyone, but I like it)

With all that said, I'm willing to spend time getting to know him, while doing my best to stay active in other areas. I absolutely cannot obsess over where the relationship is headed right now, or I will go nuts. So, I'll be open to meeting other people, keep scheduling things with friends, ramp up my tri training again, and hope that the cards fall where they should. The potential for being a great catch is just too much to say "not right now." I'd rather go slow and than give up the chance at something good.