Back to the Grind!

Time for serious Ironman Training to begin!  We are heading back to Houston in May (not Lake Placid - timing doesn't work this year).  Chris did so well in the heat & we both really liked the IM Texas course.

So, it's back to 15-20 hours of workouts every week.  This week just ended & it looked like this:

Monday - strength
Tuesday - 2 hour bike & short transition run; 1 hour swim
Wednesday - 1 hour run & strength
Thursday - 2 hour bike; 1 hour swim
Friday - 1 hour bike & 1 hour run
Saturday - 4 hour bike & short transition run
Sunday - 1 1/2 hour bike, then 1 1/2 hour run

Still Missed a swim & a strength - oops.   And this is just the beginning, sheesh!  Sometimes I get tired of training so much - but then again - I don't know what I would do without it!  It's the one hobby that has defined me.  No other enjoyment/hobby of mine makes me feel as good about myself.

Quick trip to Florida!

Weekend trip to Florida in January - oh yes!  72 & cloudy never felt so good!

Sunshine Skyway bridge - I haven't been over this bridge in ages!

 Hanging out in St Armands Circle; Longboat Key; Lido Beach - all good!  Again, I don't think I've been here since I was 12!

 We did some running on Lido Beach & on Siesta Key beach too!  Had dinner with my cousins - who again, I haven't seen in ages!  2007 or 2008...
This is Dan, Cathy, me, Jill, Steve.  Thanks to Chris for taking the picture!

 Here's the picture again, without the flash :)

We also met up with Chris' Mom & husband, Tony.  They had a house full of guests, so we only saw them for a nice yummy Sunday dinner.  Their home is a  true Florida getaway - it's no wonder they always have a house full of friends & family visiting!

Race car time!

It's winter time, so good time for garage projects! #1 on the list this winter - finish the race car.

Chris has been busy - making some sheet metal for a rear fire wall

He still has to replumb the gas tank & switch out the front axel, but he's making progress!!

New Years' Storm

Happy 2014!  Farmers Almanac has been right so far - cold winter.  Yuck!

We got about 10 inches of snow on Thursday, Jan. 2nd - not too bad.  It's light & fluffy, since it was so cold.  It would be nice if this was our only snowstorm of the season - but I have my doubts :)

 Bolts is enjoying it though - he bounds & bounds through it.

 Then he crashes - on top of me, no less.  The Bean just crashes for any reason- she always sleeps b/c she is a lazy & fat cat.

 Bolts close up :)

 Bean close up :)

Work buddies

I am so lucky to work with these great gals, especially Pauline & Erin!   My days would be long & boring.  We share a space in our office & have fun all day long:  we chat about our personal lives; complain about working :); and of course work!

Side trip to Cleveland, OH

On the way home from IL, we stopped in Cleveland, OH to pick up a sailboat for the sailing foundation for which I volunteer.  

 A pretty new J22!  Yippee!

 We made it back to Bristol, RI - whew!  Long drive - about 12 hours.

 We of course had a moment - one of the (cheap) brackets broke at 10 pm near the border of NJ & PA.  Fortunately, Chris was is resourceful & managed to save the night & the boat!  Next morning, we stopped and picked up a couple more straps.  We felt much better with the extra security (see the yellow straps in the above picture)

Christmas in Colfax

 This year, we drove to Colfax!  It took 18 hours door to door, including stops.  We wanted to bring Bolts to Colfax to meet his other Grandma, aunts, uncles, & cousins.
He did really good on the drive - much better than we thought.

 He loved Grandma H - wouldn't stay off her lap!

 We arrived around 4 pm on Christmas Eve - just in time for Mass.  Then early the next morning, we headed to my sisters house for their Christmas party ;)

 Then we took Bolts for a walk in the park.  It was cold, but he was so happy to run around.  He loved it - nice open space to go crazy!

 Chris even took him down the slide :)

 Later, it was time for my mom's Christmas party!  My brother & his family (including my sister in law's mom), and my sister & her family all converged on my mom's house!  3 dogs in total too!

 My nieces made a gingerbread house!

 The dogs were all well behaved - they were in heaven with all the yummy scents!

 Later in the afternoon -it was time to open presents!!

 My brother in law - always primed for a good photo op!

 Our $2 dollar gifts - another great year!  Money tree; socks & gloves; flashlights; hugs & kisses; memory enhancers; sunglass kits.  We have so much fun with them!

 Time for our photos!

 Adults

 Kids & Bolts

 Brother's family

 The rest of the week was spent watching basketball games at the holiday tournament!  My niece played - and did great!

 And my brother in law coached the boys team - they were so good, they won the whole tournament!

 The tournament was 3 days long.  We went to 4 games - missed the Saturday finals.

The trip home was a big success - short, but fun filled!