MS 150 training and completion:

So.... I did not use my gym membership more than 5 times. I suck. Nor did I go out and train more than a few times. I super suck. BUT, somehow I managed to accomplish biking 150 miles in two days. How? I have no idea. Perhaps it was residual of countless hours of dryland training and downhill ski practice when I was younger. Has my athletic muscle memory stuck with me? Who knows. But my recent training fell flat. Hence the reason why you haven't seen any posts from me about my biking journey.

Somehow I did manage to "do the damn thing" as I like to say. Here are pics to prove it. Would I do it again? I'm not sure, I think I would. Only if I can make the time to train. It's there for the taking, I just have to not let work get in the way. The most inspiring reason to do it again is my grade school friend Jolene, who I ran into during the event. She has MS. I had not idea. And SHE rode 150 miles. She's a huge inspiration to me and makes me want to do it again 2019. I've even been invited to join her team. With that, I think I just might. As long as I can figure out how to become one with my bike seat and keep my tooshie from hurting SO DANG MUCH. I'll keep you posted.

A little inspiration to do this thing!

I signed up for another 3 months of Snap Fitness today. I'm soooooo ready to get over this sickness and get back in the gym! That gives me until June 7th to use the facilities (unless I re-sign again). The race is June 8-9 so that will be perfect timing!

MS 150 Bike Ride

Wow, it has been a long time since I've posted anything on this blog. Is anyone out there still?

I'm writing about the start of another journey, the journey to a more fit me. The first carrot I'm dangling out there for myself is the MS 150 bike ride June 8-9 of this year.

This blog will document my preparation and progress, all thanks to my friend Brian who talked me into this. I am looking forward to sharing my training with everyone in hopes that it inspires others, just like others have inspired me. It's a simple concept, really. It starts with a desire and a spark.

I've been to the gym a few times, but currently have bronchitis. I hate bronchitis because it takes a good month or more to get over. I really don't have a month to spare, so we'll see how this all goes.

Wish me luck people! Until the next post...

Cheers!

Fourteen Years After 911

Facebook and the internet used to be flooded with 911 remembrance photos and stories on this day. Today there is very little. Many of you remember this day so vividly, a day that changed the way we live forever. That morning, 14 years ago today, I woke up to the radio stating a plane hit the World Trade Center. "A Cessna?" I thought. Then I saw what happened. I immediately knew it was terrorism when I saw the gaping hole in the tower. Horrified, I thought "that was brilliant". Who thinks that? But I knew it had to have been meticulously planned and executed...guess that comes from having been raised by a marine. While glued to the television, I went online in a college class "chatroom". I was upset, but it was my first day at the U of MN so I couldn't fathom being a no-show. It was only me and the professor. Everyone else were "no-shows", go figure. My professor said, "a plane hit the Pentagon, I have to go", and disappeared. I was suddenly alone. Not knowing what to do or where to go, I went to work. I arrived at noon and shortly thereafter they closed the business (as many did that day) telling us to go home. A co-worker and I decided to go to the little church around the corner in Wayzata. It was packed. It brought comfort. Little did we know a local family would learn their hero son, Tom Burnett, just lost his life while taking down the terrorists on United flight 93. On the way home I was glued to the radio, nervous and scared, but I couldn't help but notice all of the US Flags that were flying high on all of the overpasses leading into Minneapolis, peoples yards, cars, wherever you could fly a flag. It was an amazing, emotional sight. Show that you love your country like we all did on that day. Fly your flag high! God Bless America.

My Review of Reef FANNING LUXE

Originally submitted at Reef

Our best-selling Fanning line of footwear has gotten a glam makeover in the Fanning Luxe. Enjoy all the comfort and durability of one of our signature sandals but with a sparkle of bling. The sparkle isn't the only detail that makes this flip flop shine; a visible heel airbag absorbs pressure a...

Reef FANNING LUXE

A wardrobe staple!

By Paula the fly girl from Luck, WI (but often in the Florida Keys) on 4/25/2012

 

5out of 5

Sizing: Feels true to size

Width: Feels true to width

Pros: Stylish, Durable, Comfortable, Cute, Breathable

Cons: Wears out quickly

Best Uses: Beach, Outdoors, Walking, Everyday, Travel, Going Out

Describe Yourself: Casual, Stylish

I love my Reef sandals! The new Fanning Luxe will certainly transition nicely with dressy attire for the girl who is sick of heels that hurt, throw you off balance, and get stuck in the cracks.

I buy a pair of Reefs every six months. They are always comfortable, easy to walk in, and super stylish. My only complaint is that they seem to break down quickly, but maybe I just wear them that much! :)

(legalese)

More Chickens!

One More Sweet Song...

Exuma, Bahamas, June 2010. It was our first trip to the island and definitely not our last. When my husband, Todd, asked me how I would like to celebrate my 40th birthday I told him, "Saltwater fly fishing of course!” He asked me "Where?" so I suggested we try the Bahamas since we had yet to fly fish there. It did not disappoint. Exuma is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, and one of the last great untouched places in the Caribbean.

My goal on this particular trip was to finally catch a decent permit, or a nice-sized bonefish if nothing else. “A birthday catch I could be proud of would be a great present”, I thought to myself. Like maybe a 5-6 pound bone...

Our first day on the flats offered calm winds and a rising tide during the morning hours, which were ideal conditions. As soon as we got on the water we started seeing bones all over! Our saltwater fly casting was a bit rusty but luckily our guide, Drex Rolle, brought us up to speed quickly. Despite being accomplished fly fishermen, casting in the salt is much different then casting in the cooler, fresh water that we are accustomed to. With saltwater, wind, warm temperatures, and salt build-up can affect the performance of your fly line and your cast.

Fly fishing the saltwater flats is no easy feat. You must have the ability to cast anywhere from 30-70 feet (sometimes into the wind), and most importantly have the correct rod weight and warm water fly line to do it. Plus, here you are casting to fish that have braved their way onto the flats to feed. They are constantly moving, making for a more difficult target. Not to mention skinny water makes fish nervous. Having to evade predators such as sharks and barracuda, while trying to feed during a relatively small window of tide opportunity, makes any flats fish wiley and fast to leave once spooked. Don’t let it scare you, it’s not rocket science, you just need to be prepared with proper equipment and have some fly casting experience under your belt.

Drex has over 20 years of saltwater fly fishing experience under his belt, and I swear that man cast a fly in the space of a silver dollar at 100 yards, in the wind. At the risk of leaking one of my fishing secrets, I have to admit that Drex is one of the best guides I have ever fished with. For him to take the time to teach us the finer points of saltwater casting, was much appreciated; most guides do not do this. They expect you to know what you are doing when you show up. They would much rather spend time getting you hooked into fish than wasting precious time giving you casting lessons.

Once we were warmed up, we took on the huge schools of bonefish we were seeing. All morning, 20, 50, 100 bones to a school would swim by. Bones everywhere! We must have caught 20 each that first morning – all on a fly rod. Then, just before noon, I hooked into a 7 pound bone on the fly! I wasn’t sure just how big it was…I knew it had some muscle, but didn’t think it was much over 4 pounds. When I got it to the boat, Drex proclaimed, “That’s a good fish, mon”! I was so proud…I thought to myself, this is the fish of the trip!

Not quite.

Poling around, sight casting to that many fish (in ninety degree heat) takes it out of you and we overheated quickly. So, we asked Drex if we could go for a swim. Drex brought us to the most beautiful, white sandy beach to take a dip. It’s close to the place where Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed. The area was incredible! After a refreshing dip, we ate lunch, talked fishing with Drex, soaked in our surroundings, and then headed back out on the water for more fishing.

By mid-day the fishing action had started to slow down, which is typical. However, we knew big fish were still around because Drex would calmly tell us, “Cast over here” and when we missed the hook-up he’d quietly proclaim in his laid back voice, “That was a double digit mon”. He always told us after the fact so not to give us “bone fever” which can really mess up your cast. With all the action slowing down, Drex started to sing, “Give me one more, one more sweet song before I go” (he sounded very Marleyesque). Then, suddenly Todd hooked into something big! Great, I thought, he caught a lemon shark or barracuda. But the line didn't break so I knew it was something else. Todd said, “Drex, this is a big fish...I think might run out of line". At that moment I knew to store my fly rod and get out of the way!

Zing went the line, around the boat and back again, and back a few more times. When we finally caught a glimpse of it I screamed, "Oh my God, what the heck is that"? I knew full well it was a big bonefish. Drex was breaking a serious sweat as he coached Todd, knowing what Todd had on the line but not saying it aloud. So, I teased Drex and said, "That's gotta be a big barracuda". Then Drex shouted, "No mon, that's a BIG BONE"! I thought Drex was going to have a heart-attack right there in the boat! When the guys finally landed Todd’s prize in the boat, I swear Drex did cartwheels. All I could say was “Holy Crap!” over and over (OK, that’s not exactly what I said). All Drex could say was, "That's a BIG PIG MON, it's a HOG"!

Todd had landed a 13 pound Exuma bonefish, a rarity in that part of the Caribbean. To date the world record is 19 pounds. Todd had caught his trophy bonefish on the first day and stole my birthday thunder! But, that is quite alright by me. He was suddenly thrust into the celebrity spotlight on the island and had everyone talking all week long. What a fantastic memory for him, the kind all fisherman dream of.

In the fishing days that followed, we caught plenty of fish but they were the typical smaller-sized Bahamian bones. I never once saw my permit, either. Drex kept teasing me and saying that he bet I wished I had caught that big fish. I said, "No way, the permanent smile on my husband’s face and his newfound celebrity status was worth the price of admission”. I could not have been happier or more proud. Todd is a damn good fisherman, which I am very happy he is. Makes fishing with my partner in crime all the more fun!