Rants, Recipes, and Running

When someone mentions Las Vegas to you...what comes to mind? Usually one gets images of bright lights, the Bellagio fountains, extravagantly decorated hotels, high end shopping, scantily dressed women, gambling, excessive spending, and hangovers. Well I'm here's to prove that belief wrong. :) I am currently in Vegas accompanying my husband. He is at a 2 week course for the Air Force, and I happened to have Wednesday-Sunday off from work (I had taken PTO many months ago as we were planning a vacation during this time). So I packed up the car, set off for a road trip to Vegas. The one thing I had to do was figure out how to entertain myself during the day while Ryan is at school. My initial thought was, " I know! I'll buy myself a pack of Marlbarols, drink Manhattans, and spend the afternoon with my ass planted at a slot machine so I can waste thousands of dollars!!!!" Oh wait, no. I wouldn't do that . Ever . In a million years . In fact, I loathe casino...

Greetings, friends! I am currently writing to you from Sin City. Well, kind of. I've received some, what I'd consider , critical eyes from my some people lately. I am well aware that life has been fun of much travel and adventure lately. Triathlon weekend in Tempe, San Diego, Lake Roosevelt, now Vegas, San Antonio next week. But it's been manageable. A few reasons to clarify....1) We worked out butts off in the preceding months. 2) All these trips we are driving to. 3) Lake Roosevelt was camping ....doesn't get much cheaper than tents, beer, and hobo meals cooked over the fire! 4) Our Vegas Trip is a kind of a work trip. Ryan is here for pilot training - we are staying at hotel at the Air Force Base Hotel. Our room has 2 twin beds...if that gives you an idea of our "digs" (as least is safe, and only a few miles from the strip) Many of these tips I'm about to share are kind of "no brainer's" -- but I've found them to be very valuable....

2 weeks left in our house, and then we are off to our adventure in San Antonio, Texas. My job will give me 90 days leave, so I will be returning in September. Ryan will be staying until October some time until his school is complete. We had a lovely "Send Off" Happy Hour last Friday. My cheeks hurt from all the laughter from an evening with friends. Life has so many blessings. I have to look back in awe. May 20 marked 5 years that we've been in the Tucson, AZ area! 5 years ago, I cluelessly stepped out of the U-Haul onto 100 degree, hot AZ sand (not soil). Didn't have a college degree yet (I was only 19), didn't have a job, all friends and family were clear across the country, Ryan was only my boyfriend at the time. Was I crazy?!?! Yes .  Here's a photo we took upon our arrival as we crossed the border into AZ.  Through the unknowns and fears, I was literally "embracing" this journey. (I'm embracing the sign...) Our first weeks...

I've been a little absent from here lately. A few months ago, I did a post about adding adventure to my life. I believe my goal was that every day I wasn't spending 13 hours in an ER saving lives and taming drug addicts (aka, working)  ....I was going to do something different, new, exciting, and fun. It could be something living large or something as simple as taking a new walking/hiking/biking/running trail. I am proud to say I've stuck to my guns on this one! These past few weeks have been rather fun. Ryan got home, we realized we had some spare days to run away to San Diego for a few, we went camping, and in just a few short weeks we move to San Antonio for 3 months! I will let the pictures do most of the talking!   View of Mission Beach from our room! If you're ever in San Diego - I would highly recommend staying at The Catamaran. Resonably priced - Close enough to walk anywhere - but not in the "party central". Rooms are on the Bay Side. Gorgeo...

Today I competed in my first Triathlon! It was a sprint Tri - which consists of swimming 750 meters, biking 12.5 miles, and running 3.1 miles! Initially when I signed up, I wasn't too excited about those distances because I figured, "those are such short distances, this will be a breeze!" But I must admit it was one of the bigger physical challenges I've done! Because I actually took the "sprint" to heart! Starting April 1, I started triathlon training. And my totals for the month of April were: Run = 85.9 miles Bike = 220.7 miles Swim = 8.6 miles It was one heck of a month for mileage, and I will never have another one of those I'm guessing.I didn't have a husband at home, and I didn't work overtime. So I had the time! I felt great physically -- all that cross training was amazing for injury prevention! I've joined a group called the Desert Tri Girls. It's a great group of women -- all different ages and fitness levels training...

I am in a severe moment of "looking forward". This short term phase I am in (short term meaning 1-2 weeks) is not the best time ever. I really can't complain, I have nothing valid to complain about. So we will just say that I am super ready for my husband to return to my all-too-empty home. I am ready to stop working every weekend - as that work schedule is incredibly socially isolating.The past week, every time I talk to my husband on the phone -- I start crying. And I am not a crier -- so this is weird. Wah. So let me tell you what is keeping me going these days! In 1 week and 2 days Ryan will be HOME!!!!! I cannot believe how much I am ready for his return. The 1st 6 weeks he was gone, time flew!! As it was something new . Now I am starting to feel like the creepy, old, lonely lady who talks to her plants. This Sunday I am participating in my 1st Triathlon! Not only is it any old triathlon -- but it includes an open-water swim. This totally freaks me out. T...

I learned how to ride a bike long ago. I remember my Dad taking the training wheels off that bike on the 1st nice spring day (usually occuring in April back when the Midwest actually got springtime). He held on to my bike, told me he wouldn't let go, and after a few seconds -- he let go and I was on my own! I remember that invigorating feeling of, "Holy crap, I'm doing this on my own! I'm really doing this!" and then that stark realization of, "Oh crap, how do I stop?!?!". Well, over a decade later, I went through this process again last night. My new bike came in the mail -- and a friend of mine has a cousin who happens to be quite the "bicycle guru". He graciously assembled my new bike for me, adjusted it, and had me test ride it up and down the street so we could adjust the handle bars and seat properly. Except there's one small problem..... my bike doesn't have pedals . It had these "clipless" little stubs you instal...