100 posts 100 things....

You've all seen this somewhere I'm sure, to celebrate 100 posts I'm going to list 100 things allllll about me! Should be interesting....NOT! LOL!

100. I'm basically a lazy person
99. I'm honestly surprised how much I've found I love cycling.
98. I hope to be able to purchase a road bike next year.
97. I've always been overweight, sometimes more then others.
96. I have two boy children...ok they are not children anymore 15 and 13.
95. I'm divorced and single
94. I love my Boxer puppy..ok he's not really a puppy anymore.
93. I hope to be able to do an Olympic distance tri next year.
92. I work in accounts payable for a heating and A/C distributor.
91. I need to stop wasting so much time on the computer.
90. I was born and raised in Denver
89. I love the color pink
88. I have a large extended family that is crazy and fun.
87. I like to read
85. I'm really not a very neat person, not a total slob but...see #100
84. I love vacations to Mexico
83. I love the beach..any beach
82. I'm thrilled that at the age of 44 I finally learned how to swim with my face in the water!
81. I really enjoyed being part of CWW this past year.
80. I'm a Denver native that doesn't ski.
79. My dad came from a family of 12 kids 6 boys and 6 girls, they had 24 children 12, boys and 12 girls.
78. I like to dance but don't do it often.
77. I love food, any food.
76. I have a real weakness for ice cream.
75. I also have a weakness for Mexican food.
74. I enjoy scrapbooking.
73. Cranberries....oh yum....
72. I am a slow, slow runner, but I never thought I would be a runner at all.
71. I have a bit of a sarcastic sense of humor.
70. I tend to lose my train of thought when I'm talking, because I'm trying to multi task to much. 69. I think I might want to do another 1/2 marathon, but can never imagine doing a full one.
68. I sometimes have a problem with binge eating...see #77,76, 75 and 97
67. I'm very nervous about my oldest son starting to drive!
66. I enjoy spending time with my boys. They are fun...sometimes. :)
65. I really could use a new job.
64. I'm a good employee.
63. I'm kind of addicted to reality tv shows....I know stupid stuff.
62. I have one brother.
61. House, NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice
60. I love Colorado
59. I think orthotics are a wonderful thing.
58. I hardly ever get sick
57. I have a hard time making changes in my life (see #100)
56. I loved the Twilight series.
55. I have some very funny internet dating stories.
54. This is way harder then you would think.
53. I'm an ex smoker that still likes to smoke sometimes.
52. To help make ends meet I rent my basement.
51. I just this month got high speed internet after having dial up since my divorce.
50. I don't know why I decided to do this, I'm out of things to say and I'm only 1/2 way there.
49. I'm addicted to reading blogs.
48. I often think I should think nicer thoughts about people.
47. I miss my boys when they are at their Dad's. We have shared custody.
46. I love that my oldest boy is now getting interested in exercising.
45. I hope that they are proud of the things their mom has accomplished.
44. I am getting better about not worrying about what other people think of me and letting it stop me from doing things such as triathlons.
43. I feel I need to live in the moment more.
42. Several years ago I made a list of things (the same number as my age) that I wanted to do during the year...I think I might try it again.
41. If I go more then 2 days with out working out it seems to stretch to a week.
40. I'm also becoming addicted to Facebook.
39. I love fresh cranberries in my oatmeal with yogurt.
38. I'm going to work on learning to swim the Total Immersion way.
37. I really wanted a little girl, but now I'm glad that I have 2 boys. I in fact cried a little when I found out the 2nd was a boy.
36. I've recently become addicted to food blogs in addition to the triathlon blogs....
35. I want to be a person who eat's only healthy food.
34. I really want to do more hiking and maybe take up a little bit of trail running.
33. I really wish I had a workout partner!
32. I've always wanted to be the person that can really knows themselves, but I don't want to do the work.
31. I sometimes worry that I'm an awful mom, but hope that my kids don't think so or remember me that way.
30. I love to people watch.
29. My desk is a disaster, complete and utter disaster.
28. I love, love, love oatmeal for breakfast, and with cranberries mixed in...oh yummy again.
27. It snowed last night....I don't really like the snow that much, how can I love Colorado?
26. I'm obviously one mixed up person. :)
25. I love having my Garmin for running/biking.
24. I do better when I have a focus and a list or written plan for getting me where I want to go.
23. I've become amazingly close to some people that I only know online. Some fabulous ladies that are a great support for me in my life and weight loss journeys.
22. I have to admit to enjoying doing things just to be able to say "I've done that!"
21. My dad wants me to do a Fourteener this year. Part of me wants to...see #22
20. A friend wants me to do bike across Nebraska. A big part of me wants to...see # 22 and 99
19. I am great at rationalizing things and talking myself into something.
18. I'm always cold.
17. I hope that I can age as well as my grandmother
16. Recently I seem to be afraid...just not sure of what exactly.
15. I'm pretty boring. :)
14. Did I mention that this is really difficult?
13. I have some really great friends and they seem to like me even though I don't feel like I am always a "really great" friend.
12. I seem to like lists these days.
11. I'm working on my list of races for this next year.
10. Lack of personal responsibility drives me nuts...see video post below.
9. Did I mention that I really don't like house cleaning?
8. I need to get this done.
7. I'm amazed how self absorbed I must be to think people really care about all these things. LOL!
6. It took me 40 some years to go to a chiropractor, but now I really love it!
5. I need new tires and the motor mounts (!?) on my car need to be replaces...money always money!
4. I can't remember what I've said and what I haven't sometimes. (including on this list!)
3. I look forward to reading this list down the road and seeing how I've changed.
2. I think that doing that very first triathlon mad me a different, better person.
1. I'm done!

I love the fact that my 100th post coincides with Thanksgiving and I can tell you all how thankful I am for you. I appreciate everyone who reads my blog. I am so very thankful for my family. It's been a really rough year for so many people that I know and although I still do my fair share of complaining, I do realize how truly lucky I am to have my home my job and the health of my whole family.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Now I'm off to run a few miles in an attempt to do some damage control!

45 Goals for 45 years

I did this a couple of years and made a list of things that I wanted to do over the year. I do this on my birthday and make as many goals as I am years old. The last time I did this I didn't achieve all of my goals, but I do feel like I did many things that I would not have done otherwise. So I think it's time to do it again! Some of these may have been on my last list, and may be on my next one too, but it gives me some things to work toward!

1. Volunteer for something, anything.

2. Olympic distance Tri

3. Get rid of some of this weight, I would be happy to see 175 (still heavy but a feel good weight for me.)

4. Read at least 4 "self help" books, about any subject. Money, fitness, weight loss.....

5. Go to a spinning class.

6. Spend more time with friends, keep in better contact.

7. Go on a date. :)

8. Work on becoming a positive person again. Try to get rid of the negative.

9. Hiking-do it this summer!

10. Get a new bike.

11. Do bike across Nebraska if Jen does.

12. Denver 1/2 marathon

13. Do some kind of "race" every month of the year.

14. Drag the boys out and do something more often

15. Have Mom and Dad over for dinner more.

16. Cook more this year, try some new recipes.

17. Increase my mileage in all sports, running, biking and swiming.

18. Scrapbook 5 times this year
19. Seriously think and look for new job as economy gets better.

20. Pay down my credit cards-alot! All though I don't have much debt, it's more then I'm comfortable with.

21. D0 not use credit cards unless it's an emergency! That new bike is not an emergency. :(

22. Do something with this hair! Certainly a cut and maybe a color.

23. Get out! Stop sitting at home so much.

24. Cut out "fake" sugar

25. Be better about cards this year! Send some b-day cards to friends and *gasp* maybe some Christmas cards!

26. Become more organized as far as my paperwork goes.

27. Clean out closet.

28. Paint the kitchen.

29. Tear out that darn deck out front that I have hated for 18 years!

30. Try a new exercise class.

31. Go camping this year at least once.

32. Take the boys somewhere in Colorado that we haven't been.

33. Clean out china hutch.
34. Paint the boys rooms.

35. Take a cooking class.

36. Plan a girls night out.

37. Run faster (35 minute 5k? What can I say...I'm really slow now. :) )

38. Do a Stroke and Stride this summe
39. Do an organized Bike ride (beside or including BRAN)

40. Swimming...get in that pool!

41. Get new glasses!

42. Be a nicer person....I know you can do it Julie!

43. Go to a museum.

44. Take more pictures this year

45.....Be happy

Happy birthday to me. :)

Truer words are rarely spoken!

Feeling good!

I'm starting to feel much much better about things. Not working out as hard as preseason/season training, but have certainly been getting in some decent workouts. It helps that my oldest son keeps dragging me to the rec center since he has become interested in working out. Yea!!! My running while still very slow and not to many miles feels strong and even some what easy.

I finally got to watch Spirit of the Marathon too! I've been wanting to see it since it came out and I finally happened upon it on line. It was so inspirational! It almost made me want to try for a full marathon...almost. :) It did make me want to do another 1/2. I really do think I will plan for the Denver 1/2 Marathon next year. It will be a Rock and Roll series this year too which makes the idea even more appealing

I've become addicted to the food blogs as well as the tri blogs...scary really, but it has made me realize that I really need to get back to making good food to eat. I was in so much of a rut in what I ate that I felt deprived and was eating all kinds of junk, then of course came the weight gain. I've manage to lose about 6 pounds over the last few weeks, while that's not a lot it is certainly a step in the right direction. And the good news is I don't feel like I'm on a diet. Because of that I had some fantastic food this weekend. Nothing special, nothing even that hard to make, but different things then I've been eating and sooooo goood. I had some stuffed acorn squash, some fantastic oatmeal (this mornings was like eating dessert and healthy too!) Green chili, a yummy tortilla pizza and a gorgeous salad with pear, feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette....Oh man it was good...must go and find some more things to make!

Running and Recipe

Although my running mileage the last few months has been pathetic, this morning I had a run that reminded me just why I used to enjoy running. The weather was perfect, perfect I say! About 50 degrees the sun was shinning and it was a beautiful fall day. I felt good and hope that there will be plenty more perfect Colorado days to run in the near future! Hoping to go for a ride tomorrow as it's suppose to be nice then too.

And now for the recipe...I said that I loved cranberries and the other day I decided to combine them with butternut squash and apple...can you say killer!!!! I'm drooling just thinking about it!



1 large butternut squash
4 granny smith apples (pealed/cored chopped) I only used 1 1/2 and I had on hand a Honeycrisp (which I love by the way)
1/2 c. sugar (I used splenda)
2 c cranberries
1/2 c. butter ( didn't use that much)

Cut squash in 1/2 and cook at 350 deg. for about an hour. (mine ended up a little over cooked, or at least I think i would have liked it a little firmer) Cut in chunks.

Combine apple and 1/4c. sugar over medium heat, cook until juices evaporate. About 12 minutes.

Combine cranberries and 1/4 c sugar cook until juices evaporate about 4 minutes. (I just combined the apples and cranberries and cooked them)

Combine in 12 x 9 pan and pour butter over it. Bake for about 10 minutes.

Yummy!!!!

One week off

No it wasn't intentional. I just didn't get anything done. Between 1 1/2 feet of snow this week and just being plain lazy the only day I worked out was today. It was a good day though. My oldest son went with me to the rec center and we both did about 30 minutes on the spin bike followed up by an easy 2 mile run and some strength training. I can already feel the upper body strength training. I'm so weak. I haven't swam in like 2 weeks and really need to get my self to the pool on a regular basis.

Things have been uneventful. Doesn't look like Julie is getting what she wanted but she sure appreciates all good wishes that I would. Sometimes you just have to figure that if it was meant to be it will.

I'm sure I've said it before but....November is going to be a better month workout and food wise!