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It's Vox's 2nd anniversary this month! Help us celebrate by sharing some of your fun Vox stories from the past two years.
I think if I had to pick one Vox-based Vox story to share, it would have to be introducing MomH to all the love that is the 'hood. Last year's trip to NYC and Philly featured my first meet ups with Dora and Cranky, and the first meet up with Cap'n.
MomH was a great sport.
Pre Peep Meet:
Skeptical MomH "So, you've never met this person before? Huh."
Post Peep Meet:
Justifying MomH "Oh, what really neat people. You know, they say you can meet decent people over internet these days."
I kept trying to tell MomH Vox wasn't a chat room or dating site, it was different, but she had to experience it and reconcile it all in her own way.
And that's why I'm still here on Vox and still meeting my peeps. Here's to many more years of friendship and getting together in real life!
*raises toast to 'hood*
Results from yesterday's PBR Off-Road Triathlon: I finished! I wasn't DFL (dead last)!
There were some problems with the timing chips around the time I came in for the finish, but my trusty watch showed I completed the race in 2 hours, 40 minutes. Whew! It's about where I estimated my time to be.
No photographic evidence of my participation exists, as my friend Anne and I didn't have our adoring fans along with us to take pics. That's fine. I always look miserable in my race pictures. Probably because I am miserable and hating life while I'm on the course.
Here's a recap:
Morning temperatures in Tempe were in the mid-50s. BRRRRR!!!! Standing on the boat ramp, wearing only my swimsuit and cap, freezing, thinking "why in the hell do I keep signing up for this crap?". In the water, 74 degrees, great swimming temp. I didn't do as well as I wanted to, but I was proud of myself for being completely calm. My calmness was a great boon to me for the entire race. No room for nerves, they cause mistakes and use up a lot of energy.
Out of the water, onto the bike, sharing the brutal mountain bike course with 250 of my closest friends. Just a little stress now and again with people whizzing by and me trying not to crash. One gal, I dubbed her Stormtrooper becuase of her BMX-like leg guards, was a danger on the course. If someone yelled "On your left" she went left and cut that person off. Same for the right side. Or when she had to get off her bike and push, she would stay smack dab in the middle of the trail so no one could go by. Then she would get back on her bike without even looking if someone fast was coming up behind. I almost yelled at her but finally got around and away from her. She was pissing a lot of people off. I, for one, was more than happy to let faster people go by so they wouldn't be riding on my ass during the scary parts.
Throughout the entire bike course, I kept thinking "why in the hell do I keep signing up for this crap?" At the third lap, so many people were so ahead of me that the course cleared out and it was a lot more fun. I then started to worry that I was the last person on the course. It stopped being fun. Then I passed a few people and thought, okay, at least I'm really not DFL after all.
Back in transition to start the run and some men have already finished!!! I deflate a little, but a guy standing near me while I parked my bike and switched shoes was giving me encouragement and briefed me on what to expect on the run course, which also went through the park.
Off I went, scrambling up and down nasty hiking trails until I hit pavement again. At this time I'm thinking, "Hey, I feel great! This is fun! I'm going to finish stronger than I hoped! I can't wait to do this next year!"
It's the endorphins talking, I swear. Damn them.
As I make it toward the finish of the run, I pick off a few more people and have a strong semi-sprint across the finish line. "Number 85 finishing strong, AmyH of Tempe, 37 years old!" Why they had to announce everyone's age is beyond me, and highly irritating to a lot of the women competitors. Especially Anne, who still isn't happy about turning 40 recently.
At the end of the finish line was a big inflatable slip n' slide. Not caring that everyone else's sweat and dirt was floating around in there, I dove in to take some of the grime off myself. Super fun!
Oh yeah, on the run I was getting sweat in my eyes but since I was running in my swimsuit with a pair of shorts over it, I had no sleeves. I tried to wipe my eyes with my hands but it was like rubbing two sheets of sandpaper together. I was covered in a layer of salt and dirt - salt from my evaporated sweat and dirt from the trails. Ugh. I gave up and just blinked a lot. I laughed to myself thinking I was one big salt lick and glad there wasn't a heard of cows chasing me around. The things I think about, I swear.
So there it is. I survived, it was really, really hard and I finished well. I had a lot of fun, chatted up the volunteers whenever I went by them, and enjoyed cheering on my fellow competitors. I'm not going to win, so I make the best of it and have a good time.
I'm just a little bit sore today, not nearly as much as I expected. I'm also wearing pants that I haven't fit into in over two years. A great feeling of accomplishment!
Thanks for all of your moral support!
Hell may not be freezing over, but the temperature dropped a little bit.
I just upgraded my cable.
Less than two years ago I was happy with rabbit ears to assist with my rare TV viewing. Today I'm still never home and watch maybe 1 hour of TV a week.
But - I spend many hours and dollars at the bar on a football Saturday. I try to follow scores online when I can't make it out the bar.
Tomorrow Michigan State plays on ESPN and I have too much going on to spend four hours drinking beer and watching football. Drinking beers the day before my triathlon is not a good idea, although my best 5k time was on a morning when I was severely hungover after a night of margaritas and Mexican food. That was a few years ago, I don't think I can pull it off again.
I pick up my cable box tomorrow. In the long run, this will most likely save me money but watching sports alone is not as much fun as being around a lot of rowdy people. I'll still make it out for the big games, no worries.
Next thing you know, I'll go off the deep end and buy a dishwasher. Or upgrade my phone to one with a camera.
It's a slippery slope.
All this training for my race has made me ravenous! And I didn't even run, bike OR swim today!
Yesterday I ate my weight in whatever I could get my hands on and today is starting to shape up to be the same.
Sheesh.
Maybe I'm channelling all the hunger of my fasting friends as they observe Yom Kippur. It's the universe's way of leveling itself out, right?
That's a much better theory than my stomach being a bottomless pit. At least I'm sticking with all the healthy snacks I brought with me, but still.
Oh- and Happy Moving to Arizona Anniversary to me! 15 years. Wow. I'm feeling old. I still remember BEING 15. Sigh. But it's been fun! Whee!
*goes off to find celebratory cake and ice cream and cookies and margaritas and chips and salsa*
My off-road triathlon is this Sunday. I thought I was all fine and sort of mentally ready for it until I read the reminder email this morning and reviewed the athlete guide.
OMG. I'm usually not freaked about a race, but this is different. Who would have thought anything sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon would be difficult and strenuous? A real PBR tri should be beer, football and chips.
But I digress.
I made it around two loops of the bike course last Sunday and felt pretty good, but there were no other people out and no pressure. Sunday I'll have to do three loops and there will be a LOT of people on the course. I got my crashes out of the way last week, I hope. Heck, even today I found a new bruise I hadn't seen before. I've been wearing pants and long skirts all week to keep people from staring and wondering if everything is okay at home.
Race day:
750m swim
10 mile mountain bike. o_O
5k run "A lot of climbing, some single track trail" WTF? I'll be tired by then!
My big goal is to finish. I don't even care if I DFL (short for Dead Last). Finish with no broken bones or open wounds would be a bonus.
At least there's a slip n' slide at the end! And beer!
Cajun spiced lamb chops
grilled to meaty perfection
gnawing on the bones
Must try this at home
when my 4-H lamb arrives
and is in freezer
(I bought a lamb from a little girl at the county fair back in Michigan - SIL bid for me. If I'm paying that much over market price to help someone's college fund, I'm having dinner.)
A friend in LA sent me a note asking "What's up with Heisler beer? I saw it on My Name is Earl."
Whaaaa???
Quick Google and Wikipedia search show Heisler beer is a not-uncommon prop used in movies and TV shows, made by Studio Graphics. If I ever watched TV, maybe I would have seen it earlier.
Now I just have to try to get me a case. I should be able to get some for free, just 'cuz. I haven't digged deep enough to ask how they came up with the name, but there were some Heislers (no relation that we can tell) working out in Hollywood.
Here's to me!
*raises virtual fictional beer*
Now you know my last name. Don't stalk me. >:-(
That it's Laurie's birthday! Happy Birthday, matey!
As you celebrate, keep these rules in mind:
From the witty and wonderful Pirate Supply Store, supporting the 826 Valencia writing workshop.
News rooms bump stories all the time if something better comes along. So here ya go.
HA HA! Silly cow. Cows get their heads stuck in all sorts of places and are often hard to unstick from their situations.
I bet the Jersey is thinking, "Interesting! I think I will also try to stick my head in that contraption while it is still on her head."
(Thanks to Fabulous Co-Worker Justin for sending this to me and also turning it into a jpg so I could post it!)
Irish leftovers
potatoes beef cheddar cheese
love my Shepherd's Pie
