Tuesday, May 26, 2009

That's nasty, baby

So my friend Dave educated me on the definition of chub rub according to Urban Dictionary.

Um, yeah. I won't be using that bit o' slang again.

But let's just say that body glide has become my best friend. Good thing too because Garmin and I haven't spoken in a long, long time. I hate that SOB.

BTW anyone who can guess the source of my silly title wins a prize of my choosing. Which may or may not involve alcohol, depending upon whether or not you are pregnant and your personal viewpoint on drinking while pregnant. I say that because fully half of my readers are in fact pregnant right this very moment. And one is going to be soon if she keeps having sex 20 times a day. No form of protection can possibly withstand that kind of barrage... Seriously.

Where was I?

Oh yes talking about my former friend Garmin.

I tried to befriend Garmin again today and that bastard tortured me. The things he said! The constant whining and beeping and admonitions to SPEED UP! Like I need that right now. Or ever, frankly.

His ass is back in a drawer. I may just let his battery die.

It's not me. It's him.
.

Monday, May 25, 2009

L'Italia Update

I finally posted pictures with my first post: http://tri-di.blogspot.com/2009/05/viva-litalia.html

And yes I owe the second week...
.

Ahhh... a relaxing weekend at last

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

We haven't been to the mountains since Easter and have really been missing them. So we headed up Friday night and got here before dark. I felt my stress level drop as we drove higher up the mountain. We grilled some tuna steaks, cracked open a bottle of wine and let the relaxation begin.


The next morning Scouter let me sleep in a bit and then we all headed to the local farmers' market. It was pretty crowded for the holiday weekend but we still managed to see everything. We bought a pie and some braided bread, honey, a bracelet for Rainbow and a cool boy-necklace for Taz, and a framed numbered print by a local artist for Scouter and me. And then we went to another crafts fair and bought another framed numbered photograph from another local artist. We were a little carried away but we love them both and hung them right away.

By the time we got home, the kids were done with crafts fairs and so I took them to the pool. They are allowed to have floats and toys in this pool and they had it pretty much to themselves so a good time was had by both. I managed to squeeze in a slow painful run afterwards and then we had our neighbors over for a cookout. So I figure I broke even.



Sunday we kept talking about going on a hike but we never quite made it. Scouter got into a big window-cleaning project while the kids played and I lounged and read a book. It was lovely. Scouter even let the kids start a small fire in the fire pit, and I gave them hot dogs and marshmallows to roast for lunch. We finally got motivated after lunch and hit the local Brews and Blues festival for some music and a little more print-buying. This time we bought two photographs of some local wildlife - a deer and a black bear. And some kettle corn and some funky ice cream that Taz called frozen cotton candy.

Then we went to a cookout at a new friend from school's beautiful house. Their kids are older (high school/college age) and they were great with Taz and Rainbow. My kids were within three feet of them at all times and even talked them into letting them into the hot tub. My stomach hurts from laughing so hard.


Rainbow proclaimed today to be "Duchess' Special Day" since we'd left her alone for so much of the weekend so we finally went on a hike with her. We did three sections of the Old Appalachian Trail. Along the way, we saw a deer really close to the trail. We stopped and took pictures thinking it would run away once we walked by but it didn't. It actually started walking through the woods beside us! I thought it was cute until Scouter started talking about a deer that killed two people recently and rabies. Then it kind of freaked me out. It does look kind of demonic doesn't it?


I've been vegging ever since. Wouldn't it be nice if all weekends were three days?
.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Is it time to race yet?

As you know, I haven't been on my bike much over the last year. If I ride once per month, it is a very good thing.

But now that school is over, I'm hoping hoping hoping to have more time to bike. And run. And hey I may even get crazy and swim. Or not.

Last Friday night, I got an email from TriGirl Richard asking about availability for a ride on Saturday. We emailed back and forth and finally settled on a time, meeting spot, and route. I was so excited! I hadn't ridden my bike since I got the tires and chain replaced... in April.

And who else should show up Sat morning but Kermit? My original posse, reunited! And probably all equally undertrained.

We set off at a leisurely pace, commiserate with our current abilities, chatting and catching up. We continued to laugh and chat all the way up to Ashland. As we made the turn and started back, we spotted a large group of cyclists in front of us. They were pretty spread out and fairly far ahead.

Suddenly, I was in race mode. I shot down into aero position and started peddling with all I had. As I called "on your left" and whipped past the first pair, I felt exhilarated. I also realized, panting, that I'm not in shape for this game.

I slowed down and waited for the boys. I suggested that someone else lead. Kermit obliged but a few minutes later, he took off. I was right behind him. We caught a couple more groups and he asked if I was happy now. But there were still bikers in front of us! I jumped in the lead with Kermit on my wheel and we rode down every one of them.

We finally stopped to wait for Richard who rode casually up to us a few minutes later, laughing and shaking his head. And then he pulled us to the finish line.

I don't think I'm competitive. But clearly the evidence proves otherwise.

Now I'm thinking about what races I could fit in my schedule this year, and whether I can make the time to train for them.

I'm definitely doing the Big Nut tri and I'd like to do Heart of Virginia metric century cycling event.

Oh the possibilities!!!
.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

I is a gradjut

Graduation was yesterday. Yippee!!!

For the record, I now have a Master of Science in Information Technology Management. Kind of an MBA for geeks.




There was a ceremony in the morning for all graduates which I didn't attend. The business school ceremony was yesterday afternoon. Most of my class walked. Scouter, the kids, and my parents came.


As we filed into the Siegel Center, I was looking everywhere for my peeps. Fortunately, in an update from undergrad, I could text Scouter to help locate them. Rainbow in particular was very engaged throughout the ceremony and kept blowing me kisses. Taz mainly looked bored.



When it was time for me to approach the stage to have my degree awarded, I looked in the stands, saw that my dad was missing, and freaked out. Poor guy suffered through my none-to-stellar undergraduate days; if anyone deserved to enjoy a stronger academic performance, it is him. Then I heard someone calling my name and spotted my dad and his camera at the rail. Sweet!


My mom told me Rainbow was yelling "YEAH MOMMY!!!" as I picked up my degree. She told people she was happy I was graduating because now she has her Mommy back.

Last night, I threw myself a graduation party. Because this past 15 months haven't been enough about me already. It was interesting because most people didn't know each other, but everyone seemed to mingle and have fun.





Now I need some sleep!
.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Interlude

In between my posts about eating and drinking my way through Italy, let me just acknowledge the fact that I have become a big fat pig. My degree has been earned at the expense of my fitness.

Exhibit A: Triple chin
Exhibit B: Muffin top
Exhibit C: Chub rub
Exhibit D: No clothes that fit

It's ugly. Literally.

TriGirls, help me!!!!
.

Viva L'Italia

UPDATED: Added some pictures
~~~
Most triathlete blogs offer training updates and race reports.

Yeah, we don't have that going on around house 'o TriDi so you get a trip report instead. Possibly in multiple parts. Therein lies the similarity.

One of the big benefits of my grad school program is that, as an international program, it includes an international trip. Previous classes have been to Ireland and Denmark, and my class found out in August that we were going to Italy!!!

Italy is my dream trip. Scouter and I had planned a trip with my college roommate Jill and her husband Andy ten years ago. We talked about renting a villa in Tuscany for a week and a villa in the south of France for a second week. Shortly thereafter, I found out I was pregnant with Taz! So trip on hold indefinitely and a completely different type of excitement in store.

Fast forward - as soon as I heard "Italy" for school, I got in touch with Jill and Andy and we immediately started planning a trip in conjunction with my school trip. We spent a lot of time researching options and planning the trip. And by "we" I mean "Jill." They have spent a lot of time in Europe and really know what they're doing. Plus, they appreciate really good food and wine. Does it get better than that??? Scouter and I were up for whatever they suggested.

The first week was my school trip. In a nutshell, it was uncoordinated and poorly communicated which turned what should have been an amazing experience into an exercise in frustration. But I'll spare you the (many) annoying parts and give you the highlights. That's what I want to remember from the trip anyway.


We flew into Milan and arrived early Sunday morning. We were met by a tour bus which immediately took us to see Leonardo DaVinci's Last Supper.

I had heard that the Last Supper was the thing to see in Milan but I have to say I didn't really get it... that is, until I saw it. It was amazing! Pictures of it don't do it justice at all. It is a fresco painted on the wall of a monastery. The poses and depth of it are fantastic. I was in awe. The fresco is painted on one side of the table because in the room, the monks' tables were setup around the room with the Last Supper as the head table.

Next we went to see the Duomo which is the fourth largest cathedral in the world, the Galleria and a castle. All very cool. But as my friend Dave noted, "even the military gives soldiers water."

But anyway.

That night, we had a welcome dinner. We showed up and the restaurant staff started bringing dishes. We got to try a number of different specialties, enjoy some Italian wine, and relax. It was very nice.

The next day we visited a supercomputing center and an Internet search engine provider. Both very cool, but one in Bologna and one in Milan (three hours apart) which made for a very long day. We got back to the hotel late (maybe 7:30 or 8) and a lot of people were making plans to go to dinner. I was exhausted, so I opted to hit the fitness center for a brief run on the treadmill, a shower, and bed! That turned out to be my only workout of the trip so it's good that I fit at least one in... since I took all that crap with me.

Tuesday, we visited a private university outside of Rome. The speakers were great and it was cool to see how the university system works in Italy. It is very different and far less sophisticated than ours. Then we boarded a high speed train to head to Rome.


This trip became immediately entertaining when Terry and I attempted to find a bathroom in the train station. It had bars and we couldn't figure out what was going on. Finally, after being yelled at in incomprehensible Italian by the bathroom attendant man, we figured out that we had to pay to enter. We scrambled to the side to dig for change. Terry was finally able to enter; I kept putting a euro in the machine but it kept coming back out. Finally I figured out that I needed exact change. Who knew peeing was so damn complicated??? I entered the bathroom and while I was waiting, the bathroom attendant started yelling in the room again. I think he was trying to point me to more stalls in the back. Then we couldn't figure out how to get out of the room. Throughout the whole experience we were laughing hysterically. Which set us up for a fun trip...

I was not particularly looking forward to a five hour train ride. But I have to say it was oddly one of the most fun parts of the trip. I got to sit in a little pod with some of my buddies. We had some good conversation for awhile... and then we decided to head to the bar car. We snagged my girl Terry on the way, and we came back loaded up for the rest of the trip. Before you know it, we had pulled some other friends over to our section and the party was ON. We had an absolute blast.

And Jodi you'll love this part - we were being really loud and created a crowded section, and so in an effort to salvage the sorry reputation of the American tourist, we started toasting Canada and talking about how great Vancouver University is (since many of us were wearing VCU garb). Fortunately the poor innocent bystanders closest to us found us entertaining.

It's at this point that I realize I really need to insert pictures. Yes I'm quick. But that will have to come another day; otherwise this post may never happen.

In Rome, we had a welcome dinner at the hotel. It was okay.

Wednesday morning, we had tickets for a Papal Audience which was in Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City and attended by thousands - like maybe 12 - 15,000? With thousands more in the area. The Pope rode the popemobile through the area and came within 10 feet of us! The Papal Audience is interesting as each Cardinal welcomes groups from his part of the world, in the appropriate language. Our Cardinal welcomed students and faculty from our school, and the Pope blessed us, our children and loved ones. You know who you are! Did you ever think you'd be blessed by the Pope through... me?!?!?!? I'm pretty sure my in-laws didn't!


After than we had a short driving tour through Rome to see many famous sites like the Coliseum. It is really odd to see people nonchalantly strolling past this amazing ruin but I guess it becomes an every day occurrence for people. Then we went to another university where the two presenters were clearly in competition with each other to the extend that they couldn't communicate a message. I was falling asleep in the back of the room.

Wednesday night, thankfully, we had free time. I went to the Hotel Eden with some friends and hangers-on to watch sunset from what is said to be the best spot in Rome and then we had a nice dinner. And wine.

Thursday was another very long day but actually worth it. We took the bus to Pompeii (three hours south of Rome) and had a tour of the ruins. They were amazing. Apparently there is a historical fiction book called Pompeii that I now have to read. After Pompeii we headed to nearby Naples for a business visit to a cruise line and in the pouring rain, Naples looked like a pit. I would not want to go back. But after the visit we had a cool dinner at a local pizzeria where we had the option to make our own pie - which I so totally did! I went back to the kitchen and slapped my own dough around, lathered on some sauce, cheese and basil and popped that bad boy in the brick oven. Naples is the originator of pizza and man was it good! We finally returned to Rome at midnight. Yawn...



Friday, it was back to the Vatican for a visit with their IT staff. We met the priest who runs the Telecommunications department and saw the cute little old nuns who work in the call center in eight languages.

Friday afternoon, I met Scouter!!!!, Jill and Andy.

More to come...


.

Welcome to my Holiday Blog

So apparently now I only post on holidays. After today, you can look for the next installment on or around Memorial Day...

Anyway Happy Mothers' Day to all you moms out there... you know, the two of you who still check my blog occasionally?

My Mother's Day started out great. My babies jumped in bed with me for some snuggle time and then they decided I should have breakfast in bed. Scouter was at church so on their own they made me a bagel with cream cheese and three strawberries while I stayed in bed. They even tucked a napkin in my PJs and wiped my mouth for me.

Even better, they told me that my gift is them getting along all day. Sweet!
.