My friend Maggie has a blog post today where she figured out that even with a full time job, 8 hours of sleep a night, the other day-to-day tasks that life requires, AND Ironman training that she should still have four hours left a day for fun. She was basically wondering where the heck her four hours have gone. The tone of the post immediately made me think of the paperboy in the John Cusack movie Better Off Dead. This movie is a classic from the '80's and is too funny! A subplot of the movie is the paperboy following John Cusack around hounding him for the two dollars he is owed. Everyone can thank Maggie for this little piece of entertainment you are viewing today. Enjoy! Maggie, I hope you find those four hours - they are out there somewhere.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day!
I'm recovering from what was the worst race I've ever had -more on that later - and I'm trying to get packed up to head home from Panama City Beach so this is short. I just wanted to take a moment to wish Happy Mom's Day to all the mothers out there particularly my own mom - who is also a grandmother, too. Here are some pictures of Mom having a quiet moment with her grandson Julian at the beach. They aren't too clear because they were taken with my cellphone. It was one of those moments where you wished you had a camera, and realized you did. Yes, I said the woman in those pictures is a grandmother - hard to believe isn't it? She looks fantastic! I hope all you Mommies have a great day - you earned it!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Panama City Beach
In case you haven't been paying attention to the Countdown Clock on your right, the Gulf Coast Triathlon is on Saturday, which means I am in Panama City Beach. I drove in late last night. I'm staying in a nice condo right on the beach about a half-mile or so from the race site. It's a great location and I have an awesome view.
Today was very low key. I slept in, although not as late as I would have liked. I spent the morning relaxing, had a nice conversation with my coach, and took a nap. This afternoon I was planning on going down to the beach to go for a short swim in my wetsuit. I have a rashguard to wear under my suit that hopefully will keep me from chafing and I want to see how everything feels. When I got down to the beach, the water was wavy and it was much windier than usual. It also wasn't that hot - not that that's a bad thing. I turned and looked behind the condo and noticed that the sky was quite cloudy and dark. Ooops - guess I should have checked the weather. It never rained, though. I decided to scrap the swim - the water was swimmable, but would have required effort, and today is a rest day. So instead I headed for the hot tub. After a nice soak, I got cleaned up and went to packet pick-up. I did some shopping at the expo and headed back to the condo to cook dinner.
Overall, I'm feeling pretty good - I've been really tired the past two weeks and haven't been sleeping that great, but my training has been good. I'm really nervous about racing on my tribike - I'm over the wobbliness and I feel really comfortable in aero, even in the wind, but going fast on the tribike weirds me out for some reason. I don't know if it's a visual thing or the aero position or the smoothness of the bike, but I feel like I'm going so much faster than I actually am. When I try to go the speed I should be going, I get a little freaked out. I'm hoping that being focused on racing will take care of that. I just keep telling myself that the faster I go, the sooner I get to finish.
Tomorrow is race prep - I have an easy hour of workouts in the morning and then rest, rest, rest. Bike check-in is in the afternoon. I'm cooking and eating in. I did that for the Orlando 70.3 last year and it was really nice. Plus I'll have leftovers for after the race.
FYI - if anyone tries to reach me by phone and I don't answer - the condo is a cellphone void. I have wireless internet, but the phone is hit or miss.
It's about time for bed. Here are a few pics.
Overall, I'm feeling pretty good - I've been really tired the past two weeks and haven't been sleeping that great, but my training has been good. I'm really nervous about racing on my tribike - I'm over the wobbliness and I feel really comfortable in aero, even in the wind, but going fast on the tribike weirds me out for some reason. I don't know if it's a visual thing or the aero position or the smoothness of the bike, but I feel like I'm going so much faster than I actually am. When I try to go the speed I should be going, I get a little freaked out. I'm hoping that being focused on racing will take care of that. I just keep telling myself that the faster I go, the sooner I get to finish.
Tomorrow is race prep - I have an easy hour of workouts in the morning and then rest, rest, rest. Bike check-in is in the afternoon. I'm cooking and eating in. I did that for the Orlando 70.3 last year and it was really nice. Plus I'll have leftovers for after the race.
FYI - if anyone tries to reach me by phone and I don't answer - the condo is a cellphone void. I have wireless internet, but the phone is hit or miss.
It's about time for bed. Here are a few pics.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Tibetan Healing Mandala
The Tibetan mandala is a tool for gaining wisdom and compassion and generally is depicted as a tightly balanced, geometric composition wherein deities reside. The mandala's purpose is to help transform ordinary minds into enlightened ones.
Mandalas constructed from sand are unique to Tibetan Buddhism and are believed to effect purification and healing. Typically, a great teacher chooses the specific mandala to be created. Monks then begin construction of the sand mandala by consecrating the site with sacred chants and music. Next, they make a detailed drawing from memory. Over a number of days, they fill in the design with millions of grains of colored sand. At its completion, the mandala is consecrated. The monks then enact the impermanent nature of existence by sweeping up the colored grains and dispersing them in flowing water.
According to Buddhist scripture, sand mandalas transmit positive energies to the environment and to the people who view them. While constructing a mandala, Buddhist monks chant and meditate to invoke the divine energies of the deities residing within the mandala. The monks then ask for the deities' healing blessings. A mandala's healing power extends to the whole world even before it is swept up and dispersed into flowing water—a further expression of sharing the mandala's blessings with all.
Mandalas constructed from sand are unique to Tibetan Buddhism and are believed to effect purification and healing. Typically, a great teacher chooses the specific mandala to be created. Monks then begin construction of the sand mandala by consecrating the site with sacred chants and music. Next, they make a detailed drawing from memory. Over a number of days, they fill in the design with millions of grains of colored sand. At its completion, the mandala is consecrated. The monks then enact the impermanent nature of existence by sweeping up the colored grains and dispersing them in flowing water.
According to Buddhist scripture, sand mandalas transmit positive energies to the environment and to the people who view them. While constructing a mandala, Buddhist monks chant and meditate to invoke the divine energies of the deities residing within the mandala. The monks then ask for the deities' healing blessings. A mandala's healing power extends to the whole world even before it is swept up and dispersed into flowing water—a further expression of sharing the mandala's blessings with all.
-from the Sackler Art Gallery
Amitayus MandalaAmitayus is the Buddha of Boundless Life
In January of 2002, in response to the September 11 tragedies, twenty Buddhist monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery constructed a sand mandala (sacred painting) at the Sackler gallery in Washinton, D.C. This seven-foot-square mandala, one of the largest ever created in the West, was offered for the healing and protection of America. In addition, the monks participated in chanting, meditation, and other traditional healing ceremonies.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Monterey Bay Aquarium Underwater Kelp Forest Cam
This is the live cam that runs from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m pacific time. If you don't see anything go to the next screen, which displays activities recorded earlier in the day.
After hours playback
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
SpongeBob Fun
Never mind how or why I found this video. I thought it was amusing and I like the song. I will say that it's partially Joey's fault and leave it at that.
Friday, April 25, 2008
A picture speaks a thousand words
I wanted to write a post about Danica winning her first race earlier in the week, but then it was Earth Day, and then I was busy. I started writing all this stuff about gender barriers and role models and nay-sayers and then I saw this picture, which I think says it all, and is hilarious as well.
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