Rants, Recipes, and Running

It has been almost 2 months, and I'm finally getting to my review post. Better late than never right? I must say the Hawaii trip was the best vacation to date Ryan and I have taken. We started in Kaui, and then hopped over to Oahu. Let's start with Kauai! One of the perks of how much Ryan travels, is he gets some SUPER perks from National. So we got this little hot-rod to escort us around Kauai!     We stayed at a hotel on the East side of the Island our 1st night. We headed straight for a walk on the beach. Actually...Ryan spent the 1st half hour in a 90 degree hotel room (AC wasn't turned on!), logging into work and school. I was not loving that...   But then we headed to the beach!!   Pictured below was a sacred area of the island. After much exploring, we realized those rocks "tombstones".   Here is a panoramic view of the Kauai from the east view! Gorgeous! Our 1st night was pretty low key, as we had a BIG HIKE ...

I am totally copy-catting my sister today. But anyone who knew us growing up, now this is not a "new" behavior for me. ;) I always was her shadow. I've toned it down a bit over the years.... But I saw all the exciting things she has to look forward to in October, and it got me excited about my month too! October 2-3: I am heading on my 1st "work trip" ever! I know some may snicker at this, as traveling is part of their daily job. But in nursing, it's not every day you get to fly across the country. I also want to clarify - that I realize traveling for your job is not "fun", and becomes quite exhausting. But being the wife of the one who's out of town every other week....I am really excited to be the one who's leaving town for a few days ;) I'll be heading to Arlington, VA for a IPF Conference (that's Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis). I've been invited to serve on the team as an "ambassador", and give my input from ...

So if you've followed my blog, you'd learn that I've done the triathlon's kind of backwards. I started with a sprint tri. I then progressed to an Half Iron Man. And last weekend I did an Olympic Tri.   Usually people don't "dive" into the HIM until they feel "semi" experienced with triathlons! But I crave crazy.   Now after completing these 3 distances, I must say the Olympic Distance is amazing! It is long enough to feed my crazy. But it's short enough that I can push myself and not feel like dying afterwards!   I can drink the free "post race Michelob Ultra" ;)   Because I'm not vomiting.   (After my HIM, I was hunched over vomiting post race. For a long time.)   I have to say this race was one of the most fun races I've ever done! Just such a good weekend. I'll let the pictures tell you my story.....       Here is my bed as I packed for the race. There is so much stuff to pack for a tr...

I have been a bit absent from my blog lately. And I keep trying to sit down to do a Hawaii Recap post, but haven't been able  to get the pictures together to do that. But I promise that will be coming soon! Instead I think I'll give a generalized recap of life as it is. Mid July, Ryan decided to revisit of dream of his that has persisted since he was about 9 years old - to become an F-16 fighter pilot. On August 4 he turned 28, which is the cut-off year for applying for this position. Once you turn 30, they no longer train pilots to fly '16's. He also has been balancing a full time engineering career, with a part time flying career with the Air Force that puts him working 14-20 days in a row sometimes. That's not a really "long term" approach to living a happy and fulfilled life. He has grown a lot of gray hairs over the past year, and he's only 28! So to the drawing board we went. And decided it would be best he pursues this lifelong dream. ...

I have been very absent from this blog lately! Where do I even begin... Here's what I've been up to! Training : I have a race on my horizon, at last! I've decided to do the Tempe AZ Lifetime Olympic Triathlon in September. I have 4 other friends that are doing it as well, so it will be a good excuse for a "girls weekend". I'm not following a specific training plan. I still like to try lifting weights at least 2 times/week. I've found from triathlons in the past (for me), it is most important to make running a priority. In a triathlon, you're running when you're the most tired. For those of you not aware, an Olympic tri is a 0.9 mile swim, 25 mile bike, and a 6.2 mile run! I've been terrible about swimming this time around. I'm so scared of getting an ear infection, and I seem to have a hard time getting my butt in that pool! Dreaming : About our upcoming Hawaii vacation! We have been planning this for about 1 year, so I am so ...

The high of my week was Saturday night's party we attended. My husband's work had a "farewell" party for 3 guys that are leaving. It was a great time! The low of my week was... getting a parking ticket Friday night on my way home running errands. I was on the phone, not paying attention, thought that the meters stopped at 5 pm, but it turns out they stopped at 6 pm. I parked my car at 5:40p, was back in my car at 6:05p. $65 ticket.... My favorite outfit was  I don't have a picture, but the dress I wore to the party last night. I bought it on a whim this week. Tuesday night we had dinner plans to meet a friend for his son's birthday. In my last hour @ work, I spilled coffee on my white shirt. So had to find something quick. I found the cutest brown and white A-line sundress.   For my workouts, I completed: Monday - Lifted weights - did a tough shoulder workout! And ran 4 miles Tuesday - Ran 7.5 miles with my girlfriends Wednesday - Lifted arm...

Most of my career, I have not had an office. During my time as a floor nurse, I ran around from room to room, and did my charting standing up in hallways. As a case manager, I walked around the entire hospital with a giant binder going from room to room. We had a "case management office" - but I avoided it at all costs. I would see all my patients, and find a computer in a quiet corner to do all my documentation. #heaven This is my job where I've ever had a designated desk, in a designated office, that I am required to spend a large amount of time at during my day. I have learned about myself, that I would like to work in a fish bowl of silence. I have developed a great deal of pet peeves. These pet peeves are of behaviors that I witness, that one would think are common sense. However, as Ryan always tells me, " Common sense is not that common ." My environment is unique. And I have 2 words to describe it: per·son·al·i·ty dis·or·der   noun: ...