Spewing Chunks

Cherryl, Kyle and I went to Utah the weekend of September 7th to See Eddie, Carline and Matix, and to be with GK and Suzanna to help bless little Van. I have a bunch of pictures but I left my USB connector at Eddie and Carline's so I have to wait for it to arrive by mail before I can download and show them off, but in the meantime we had an experience that I have to tell you all about.

Suzanna's family was having the wedding reception for her sister at their cabin up in Little Cottonwood Canyon (calling it a cabin is a little like calling a pavilion a tent; it's a real mountain getaway.)and Kyle and I went up to deliver some decorative lights. We had the dog with us and I was a little nervous about that because every time I have taken him in my car he throws up. Never once with Cherryl, only with me. She took him to Yosemite; 5 hours in the truck in and out of the canyons, up and down hills, never once. All the way to Utah, 11 hours and not even a hick-up. I take him down the street and he leaves a gift on the front seat. I should have named him Barfolomew.

Anyway, we're heading up 90th South into the lower bench. We had gotten some drinks when we left Eddies and I had just finished chewing my ice and put the cup in the holder between me and Kyle in the front seat when Woody comes up on the center console and sticks his nose in my cup, like he's looking for something to drink. I hear a small coughing noise and Kyle say, "He just threw up in your cup!". Sure enough, there it was. We both nervously laughed and commented on what a close thing that was and how lucky we were to have a cup, and that he used it. We pulled into a Walgreen's and I threw the cup in the trash can, and we went on our way confident
that we had dodged the bullet.

About a mile up the road we're now into the last houses and still about 2-3 miles from the cabin when Woody comes up and gets into Kyle's lap and sticks his head out the window, then pulls it back in and starts licking his nose and lips and salivating. Kyles says, "I think he's getting sick again!". I yell, "STICK HIS HEAD OUT THE WINDOW!!!. Kyle just barely gets him to the door when he lets loose with a bucket load. Kyle looks out the window and say "It's all over the side of the truck!" I had no idea till we got to the cabin and by that time it was dry as a bone and glued on tight. It was all over everything from the rear corner of the window to the end of the bed. I mean he must have stored up everything he had eaten for the last three days for this stunt.

Before I take him anywhere with me again I'm going to have to invent some kind of plastic bag that goes over his head, that will let him breath, but traps him in his own gift when he bless me with his last dinner.

Next blog I'll tell how Matix tried to take up rock climbing when we went with Uncle GK.

In Honor of... 9/11

Friday, September 12, I had to drive up to Malibu to pick-up my race packet.  As I approached Pepperdine University I came across this incredible sight.  Thousands of flags on that expansive grassy hillside- 2,997 of them to be exact; one for each victim of 9/11.  It was an amazing sight.  The night before I watched some of the shows commemorating the event on the History Channel.  I came across them while channel surfing... the film was an open mic but no one was talking.  NYC has never been so silent.  There were people walking around but no one said a word.  And I was plunged back into that feeling I had after the attacks and unable to pull myself away from the vision on the screen.  

For those of you who don't know, I was in NYC 5 days before the attacks.  A friend called me at work on Friday and offered me his frequent flyer miles to come to the east coast for the weekend.  I've never done anything quite that impulsive but took him up on his offer.  I was on the red-eye that night.  

It was the most beautiful weekend: postcard weather with clear blue skies.  We visited some friends on Long Island.   My hosts took me on their boat and we cruised around Manhattan.  I feel honored to have been able to see the Towers one last time.  My friend and I stayed much to late to make the trek back to Connecticut so we stayed on Long Island at our hosts beautiful home.   The next day instead of racing back to CN to retrieve my luggage then to JFK to catch my return flight, my friend convinced me to go into the city to play instead. He promised to Fed Ex my things to me overnight.  I agreed and we spent a fabulous day in the city afterwich he took me to the airport and I boarded without any luggage and only the clothes I was wearing.  That would be viewed as very suspect post-9/11.  But again, I was so grateful to have had one more moment in NYC that was so carefree and exciting.  Not to mention that I could leave my shoes on before boarding the plane!

The morning of 9/11 I was getting ready for work when the radio program broke with a news bulletin that a plane had reportedly hit one of the towers.  I immediately knew it wasn't an accident because of all the flight restrictions.  I turned on the TV and was watching live when the second plane hit.  I think we all share the mutual story of being glued to the TV/radio while the country's collective heart was broken.

About 6 weeks after the attack, Mom and I went to NYC and visited the site.  They were still keeping people several blocks away but you could still see enough to break your heart.  And again, the silence.  No one spoke.  I'll never forget that feeling.

J-Lo SmayLo... I made the Podium!

Yes, this past Sunday was the celebrity infested Malibu Triathlon. You always knew where Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Lopez were based on the flashbulbs of the paparazzi. Yes, there were bets as to whether Matt would bike shirtless or not. He opted for a shirt. The Malibu Triathlon is considered a sprint tri. The distances are: 1/2 mile swim, 18 mile bike on PCH and 4 mile run... in that order.
I decided late in the season to push myself to see what I could accomplish. My goal was to try to podium in at least one of my 3 scheduled Tri's (Hermosa and Pumpkinman Las Vegas Club Nationals are next month). A month and a half ago I hired a coach to help train me. He creates training schedules for me and we phone conference once a week. I knew I was taking on a very lofty goal given the time frame but I figured I could repeat my performance from last years Hermosa and perhaps improve on it.


Last week I noticed that my attitude had gone a little south and I was dreading my workouts, even though my numbers were clearly improving. I realized I had put a wee too much pressure on myself, was pushing harder than my coach had even recommended. I was starting to dislike my workouts because none of them were fun anymore- they all hurt! I don't mean "hurt" as in injuring myself, but as in pushing my physical limits- every time. Time to back off and return the joy!
I decided to let that goal go, do the best I could while enjoying the process. My new goal: beat Jennifer Lopez's time! How lofty is that? I mean come on... ya gotta have some kind of incentive. Who cares that she just gave birth to twins 5 months ago. She has LOTS of leisure time and Gunner Peterson training her (lest you all think that I believe mom's just sit around with nothing to do, let's remember ... it's J-Lo... nannies, cooks, chauffers and personal assistants... she's got time!). Besides, she's about 15 years (give or take a few) younger than me.


I had to get up at 3:15 a.m in order to be in Zuma when the parking opened. It's limited and they advise an early arrival. When I was setting up I saw Liz Kollar who's also from the LA Tri Club. She's a legend in the club. I rode some training rides with her the first of the year with the TriChicks. She's pleasant, helpful and freakishly strong! She rides up montser hills then comes down and rides up with you. She's done 6 Ironmans and was accepted to Kona again for this years Hawaii. Apparently she recently had a birthday which bumped her into my age group... bummer!
We started talking and she told me that just after she received notification of Kona, she tried to grab a bike that was falling after one of the trichicks rides and tore her rotator cuff. She recently had surgery and was swimming with one arm... ONE ARM!!!! Unbelievable! She toasted the entire group swimming with one friggin' arm!!! Swimming is my slowest event and she beat me by 4 minutes... with one (1) arm. One. Impressive.

Even though my swim time was relatively slow, I felt strong and relaxed. I read the currents well except for rounding the last buoy. It carried me a little too north and I had to swim back south. I did have the second fastest bike time in my age group (guess who had fastest? ... Miss One Arm Swimmer! She was probably biking with one leg) and the 5th fastest run time. All which added up to me placing 5th in my age group and the last person to make the podium! Final time: 2 hours and 1 minute AND I beat Ms. Lopez by 22 minutes... MISSION ACCOMPLISHED X2. In defense of J-Lo, she had a respectable time. I admire her for taking it on and she contibuted to raising one million dollars for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles- a very good cause.

So here's the only pictures I have of me. VERY SCARY! They were taken by a LA Tri Club member and posted on the website. Ain't I serious lookin'? Almost as serious (scary?) as GK looks with that beard and dark glasses only I have my Bono Wannabe glasses on. I don't know who is scarier but I'm placing the vote squarely in my corner. GK?