Silly Mayans

Oh no!  The Mayans were wrong!  Hard to believe, right?  Guess I'm going to have to really start working out now!  2013 will bring new challenges!  Thanks for reading this year.  Hope to see you next year too!

Train - Sea Bright Concert

Here's the link to the Sea Bright concert tonight.  One of the two videos that was posted in the local paper.  Very cool.  If you want to read all about how Train got to Sea Bright, make sure to check out the documentary by Charlotte Nagy of Rumson.  That is listed below the Train concert link.



The Charlotte Nagy documentary is excellent.  A high school student from Rumson, NJ, it shows the before & after effects of Hurricane Sandy.  Definitely not easy to watch if you are from the Jersey Shore.

December 2012

There's about 15 or so days left til the end of the world, so I have been putting off exercising.  I mean, who wants to be on a diet if you have less than 3 weeks to live, right?  Not me!  I was back on track this week, for the most part & I even played tennis.  Yay me!  Love tennis.  But there are so many things to do besides workout & have you seen the Williams Sonoma 12 days of cookies.  This year I swear I am going to get my mother to make at least one batch!  WTH?  I will guilt her with the notion that we only have a few weeks left & shouldn't we all go out fat & happy.

But I fear this Mayan end of the world thing is like the Y2K bug.  Remember that?  Where everyone was stocking up on water & twinkies because someone left a 1000101010 out of some code somewhere?  Now we can't even stock up on twinkies because Hostess has screwed us all.  I guess I'm going to have to just get some cranberry bliss bars from Starbucks & call it a day.  Those are way tastier than a twinkie & I am sure the cranberries make them way more healthy.  Right.

& to continue on my ADD post this morning.  Did you happen to see the $450 Starbucks metal gift card.  I so need this.  & yes, I know there is a $50 fee just for the card.  But I seriously spend like $40 a week in Starbucks.  I am just consolidating my money into one 6 month shebang.  If that even makes sense.  I don't think Santa will leave it in my stocking, but hey, you never know!

But this post isn't about cookies, or Starbucks, it's about getting my fat you know what out there before the world ends, because I have a sinking suspicion that if I stuff my fat face full of cookies, candy & junk food between now and 12/21/12, I may be really angry when I wake up on 12/22/12.  & lets face it.....where are the aliens....because if that's the way the world is going to end, I'm sure they would have already showed up by now.  You know you get a few good weeks in before they decide to decimate the earth.  I've seen enough movies to know that!  Now pass me a peppermint candy cane cookie!  I'll run tomorrow...I swear.

Nevis

It's been almost a month since I left for Nevis, right before Hurricane Sandy blew into NJ.  I wanted to post a few pics of how pretty the island is & some of the things I saw while I was there.  It was the most relaxing vacation ever!  Not to mention lots of tennis & yoga.  I definitely am looking forward to my next vacation!

View from the plane

Four Seasons Dock

Beach at the Four Seasons, so serene!

Beach at dusk

Yep, NJ is everywhere, even in Nevis

Flavia & I.  I have no idea what I spilled all over

myself, because we were having too much fun to care!

Flavia's bf's fishing traps.  Very cool.

Aaaaahhhh tennis.

The end!

Woodstock Triathlon Festival

http://splitsecondracing.net/woodstock/raceinfo.html

Wow, groovy!  OK I couldn't resist!  & I'm in!  As much as I would love to do the half......I just don't think I am ready for it.  I signed up for the Olympic.  Hopefully I will beat my NYC time from last year.  Here's the info on the race:

Race Info

A challenging scenic 70.3 through some of the most beautiful parts of New York State. If you are racing in Lake Placid, this is your perfect training race!   May 4, 2013

Brought to you by my friend Doug & the Sandy Hookers.

www.jerseyadrenaline.com

www.jerseyadrenaline.com

New site.  Check it out.  All the race info you need in one place.  Always looking for a good spot for race information  & this one has it.

Good luck John with your site!

Where to run?

Did you run today?  Yeah, me either.  I went to the gym last night.  Rode the bike.  Not too much fun, but there's nowhere to run outside any longer.  Hurricane Sandy blew away the boardwalk & it gets dark so early & honestly, some parts of town are still without power.  I know I'd be the one to step on a live wire.

So last night I was off to the gym.  Not the big gym, but the mini gym or the red headed stepchild gym  as I like to call it.  & I was going to go to spin class tonight, but that would have required some planning ahead.  Who does that any longer?

When I was on vacation I played tennis every other day & went to yoga.  I have never been so relaxed in my life.  8 days in paradise & then I returned to regular life.  I immediately was stressed the second I got to the airport.  Not knowing what hurricane ravaged home/neighborhood/friends/family I would come home to (never end a sentence with a prepositional phrase).  As it was 3 people were staying at my tiny, dog smelly house (horrified I'm sure) & I was happy that they were all relatively safe.  Some family was evacuated (stubborn) but understandable, given the fact that in 93 years you've been safe in your house, right?  So we all came through it ok & even though 4 of my friends are semi-homeless now, it looks like we have to get back to normal.  My mom keeps saying - the new normal.  She went to Monmouth Beach today to see her friends.  Now my mom never ventures far & spent all of her summers as a kid there, but I think even she was shocked.  I know I was shocked when I saw Manasquan & Spring Lake.  But we spent many years in Sea Bright, our favorite Monmouth Beach house with the big white whale plaque on it may have to be torn down.  Please, please put whaley back.  Please save whaley!  I think I need to make up whaley shirts & give the profits to Hurricane relief.   The devastation is just everywhere.

So if I don't post about running, or biking or being a shitty runner & biker, it's because we're all trying to get back to the new normal.  Where there's nowhere to run or bike or swim.  Unless it's at the gym.  And that's just boring.  But I'm not complaining.  I am fortunate.  Very fortunate.  I am just sad for my friends & my old neighbors & the beach, which may never be the same for a very long time.  & even though I know we will rebuild, it's hard to see your childhood memories scattered everywhere.

I've enclosed the link below - rebuild the shore.  T-shirt sales will benefit neighborhoods that lost everything.   I am torn between 109 & 98.  I should buy both.  Also the Manasquan link below donates 100% of the donation to people who have lost everything in Manasquan.

http://www.manasquan-nj.com/hurricane-donations.html

Fist Pump® Shirts - Clubwear & Apparel | Rebuild Exit 109 - Rebuild Your Exit™ - Shirts | Shirt Brand, Marketing & Promotions Company --

Fist Pump® Shirts - Clubwear & Apparel | Rebuild Exit 109 - Rebuild Your Exit™ - Shirts | Shirt Brand, Marketing & Promotions Company --

Hurricane Sandy

I was planning on blogging this week about my vacation & all the fun tennis I played, but upon my return home, there was nothing fun about what I witnessed.  Hurricane Sandy blew through my beautiful hometown & beachfront.  There's nothing left of many places that I blog about, including my Spring Lake Boardwalk.  Last year I posted pics from Hurricane Irene.  Parts of the boardwalk ripped apart by the storm surge.  This year I am sad to say there is nothing left of it.  Here are some pics we have taken.  Not all were taken by me.

Pier Beach Spring Lake

My turnaround pitstop/drink spot for my long runs.

South End Pavilion Bathrooms

Sea Bright & the entrance to Sandy Hook

Ocean Avenue Spring Lake

Plot to attack Federal Reserve in NYC: Suspect thought he had 1,000-pound bomb, authorities say

The picture included in this video includes the flag I placed on Gerard's name on 7/4/12.  Of all the pictures they could have used, or the names on the memorial, I couldn't believe they picked his.  Never forget.

Plot to attack Federal Reserve in NYC: Suspect thought he had 1,000-pound bomb, authorities say

Tunnel to Towers Run 2012

Here's a few pics from the run on Sunday.  It was year #4 for me & by far the best year yet.  This race gets better each year.  I ran with 2 friends, one who lost her cousin that day, also a FDNY member.  Very emotional, but inspirational.  The wounded warriors are so amazing, I can't even begin to explain how incredible it was to see all of them.  This year I decided to take my phone into the tunnel.  There's a video too, for those who want to see what the run is really like!

Red Hook - before the race at Ikea - WTC in the background.

Into the tunnel we go!

Video of the race.

Fire boat in the Hudson.  Nice rainbow!

The reason why we do this.

Finished!

Bruce Springsteen at Met Life Stadium

OK so this Jersey Girl has to admit that last night's show was really great.  Now I have never been a die hard fan.  I've never really been a fan at all, but by some great luck & an even greater friend I was treated to a really great concert last night.  So here's another shout out & many thanks for the fun time!  Here's a few pics I snapped from my great spot on the floor!

Crowd surfing.  I was kinda glad he wasn't too close, he's sweaty!

And finally, look who I was singing along to Thunder Road with...Brian Williams.  Makes me wonder who was his stand in on the nightly news last night!  Had a great time.  Thanks so much!!!!!!  We had a blast.  

Here it is........

It's not every day that you have to go online to defend yourself, but I started this blog a few years ago & I guess that it is the equivalent to an online diary.  So I probably opened myself up to scrunity when I went online to start writing about my silly foray into the triathlon world.

Lately, I have taken on some not so nice readers.  Maybe they read about me because they want to know what it's like to be a middle aged semi-serious triathlete.  Maybe they like to check in to see what's going on in the world of NJ.  How am I supposed to know?  I didn't think anyone but my friends Cathy & Kelly actually read my blog, but apparently they do.

I've found out that some person, who also posts on Red Bank Green, my local online newspaper/site has been following me too.  His name is Charles Lembcke & today he changed his blogger name to Mister Screwtape.  Apparently he thinks I am the most despicable person in the whole wide world.  That's ok, I'm sure there are a few others that feel the same way as you do.  But here's the thing.  I don't really care what some guy that hides behind a fake name thinks of me.  Why?  Because for the past 3 years you've been able to read all about me.  Unfiltered.  What you see on this page is what you get.  100% me.

So......to refresh everyone's memory.....lets start at the beginning.  As you know, I started this blog to write about what a lame runner I am.  How I can't make it past 10 miles without wanting to die.  How I wish I was a better runner, blah blah blah.  Interdispersed you will find funny stories, dog videos, knitting pictures, ocean views & yes, every once in a while a tiny story about my life.  Or things that have happened in my life.  Everyone knows me - single girl, happily living in NJ with her dog.  Maybe that bugs Charles Lembcke, how the hell do I know what he is thinking?  Clearly he has it out for me, as he has sent me 4 nasty comments to my blog.  All deleted.  Until now.  Here's one he sent me today.

Subject: [Jenn's Triathlon Blog] New comment on 9/11.

Mister Screwtape  has left a new comment on your post "9/11":
It's kind of creepy the way you keep intimating that you had some sort of relationship with Jerry. You didn't. You ought to stop stalking the memory of this dead hero.

Nice, huh?  My first response was of course, as I'm sure yours is, of complete & utter shock.  To question my knowing someone who died on 9/11 was well, completely disgusting.  & honestly, given the subject matter, who in their right mind would even go there?  I'm a person who writes a blog about her life.  Read it, don't read it, who cares?  But to question me about someone who I cared about that died on day, well that is just too much.

You know what's creepy?  That you hide behind an internet login.  Clearly you post on my local newspaper, you have a problem with me.......why hide?  So as much as it pains me to write this...here goes.

I met Jerry at a college friend's wedding.  Her husband was his friend in Probie school.  They lived together on Staten Island.  My friend married him & we met the day of their wedding.  Now was this some exciting love affair?  Ah no,  I was 26 years old when we met.  13 years ago.  He was 33 & he was from Boston & there was no doubt that someday after he finished being a NY firefighter that he was going back to Boston.  To his roots.  He liked NY, but his home was in Boston.  We dated, on and off for the next 2 years.  Were we crazy in love?  No, I'd say not, but we were close, very close & we did things that people who date do.  I helped him paint his apartment in Queens a crazy blue color on our second date.  We went out to dinner, we went to the beach, we talked on the phone, we gossiped, we laid on the couch watching tv & we laughed.  & then he died.  He was the first adult relationship that I have had where the person was no longer there one day to talk to.  He used to call me all the time, at all crazy hours of the day & night.  He'd always say the same thing - whatcha doin? at like 2 am when he'd come in from a fire call & he couldn't sleep because he was still all hopped up from the fire.  & I'd always reply I'm making a cake, what else would I be doing at 2 am?  & we'd laugh.

I spent tons of money on cell phone bills to talk to him, because back then, no one had unlimited plans & we would talk as he drove from Rockaway to West Roxbury - sometimes for 3 hours straight.  I wish I had a copy of that $3,000 phone bill he got one month.  Maybe that would prove that we dated.  Or maybe the blue wine glasses I gave him to match his blue apartment would be enough.  I wish I had kept the receipts from Pottery Barn, or wherever I got them.  Maybe that would be enough for Mr. Lembcke.

What Mr. Lembcke doesn't know is how hollow & empty I felt that day that I knew he was missing.  How people in my office had kept the NY newspapers away from me that week, in case his name was listed.  & it was.  My friend called me on Thursday morning to let me know he was one of the missing.  I went to the memorial, with my college friend & her husband & we spent the weekend in Boston crying & laughing about our friend.  Someone that we all loved.  Was I the only girl he ever dated there?  Nope & I'm happy to say that the other one has become a friend.  We talk & we are having dinner in two weeks.  With his family.  So Mr. Lembcke, I dare you - to come with join me in a few weeks for dinner with them.  As then you will know for certain that I would absolutely never in my life disgrace myself or his memory to make even 1% of this story up.

Do you know what it's like to go to a memorial for a person when there's no body?  When there's 1,000 fireman lining the streets & you have no idea what is going on or when & if they will find him?  Cardinal Law was at the wake, it was surreal to say the least.  & then on that cold day in December, they found him.  In the cold, with another firefighter.  It was December 8, 2001.  & I got the call the next day, from my college friend that they had found him & they were going to bring him home.  I still cry about what happened to him.  About what happened to 3,000 other people that day.  & not just because I want to "stalk the memory" of someone you think I don't know.

You sir, are a total scumbag, to even suggest that I would do so is disgusting.  & to write me comment after comment suggesting that I would make it up is just unwarranted & extremely unnecessary.  To do so on the 11th anniversary is even more disgusting that I even have the words for.  So let me say this.  I don't think you quite understand the snakepit you just got yourself into.  You can hide, go ahead, I hope you're good at it.  Because I know a lot of people & if you want to keep this up....go ahead, but my suggestion to you is to limp off into the abyss because you're going to be sorry if you keep this up.  & you can send me comments all day long, because they're never going to get posted, well except for the one above, so everyone could read all about you, or whoever you really are.

Tunnel to Towers Run

As I get ready to head out to work, when I wish I was really home watching football today (go Niners!) I wanted to post a quick link to the Tunnel to Towers Run on 9/30.  The last day to sign up is this Tuesday.  The Stephen Siller Foundation helps build "smart homes" for wounded warriors.

It's a great cause & if you're in the NYC area considering doing it.  Four of my friends will be running with me this year, my fourth year doing it.  The race begins in Red Hook Brooklyn & ends at the World Trade Center site on the West Side Highway.  You can watch the race on CBS in NY.

http://www.tunneltotowersrun.org/

9/11

Taken 7/4/2012

Never Forget September 11, 2001

September is always a somber month for me.  Even after 11 years the pain of 9/11/01 is with many of my friends & neighbors.  It is a day no one should ever forget.  This year, after volunteering for the 9/11 Memorial for about 8 months, I'd like to share this picture of Jerry's helmet, taken by his nephew & share it on my blog to remind those to never forget what happened that day in September so many years ago.

The inscription reads:

FF Gerard P. Dewan - Ladder Company 3

Whose Helmet Was Recovered With Him 12/8/2001

In North Tower of WTC

Never Forget 1810.

Chicken With No Head

I received a call tonight from a friend who became a friend only by chance.  She's really sweet & always made me laugh & I have no idea how I came to know this about her, but her brother was killed on 9/11.

September is always a rough time for many of my friends.  It's a time where I'm always left feeling like a chicken with my head cut off.  I never know what to do to give back for all the sacrifices that people made that day.  I've spent 11 years trying to think of ways to keep the memory alive of my friend who died that day & for my other friend that got out of the building.  It's hard & I keep it to myself & I spend time with my friends that survived that day, but I really always feel like I never do enough.

For years I didn't know what to do or where to go or how to celebrate the life of my friend who was killed.  It was a weird feeling, one that I never really share with many, because I always felt that there were so many others who suffered much more than I did.  I jumped at the chance to become a 9/11 Memorial volunteer because it gave me the chance to be close to Jerry & to keep him close by.  I know many don't understand why I do it, but it's to give back.  It fills the void of not being able to do something meaningful for the past 10 years.

When she called me tonight I knew she was hurting.  I haven't thought about September yet, even though August is over & Septmber is less than 48 hours away.  I think back 10 years & wonder what would have happened if he had come to Ireland with me, since he had never been, or if he had answered his cell phone while I was at the airport.  I guess you can spend your whole life wondering about what ifs.

So when I spoke to my friend tonight, we tried to laugh & tried to be funny, but I know she is hurting & even though my lame attempt at humor made her giggle, I can't take away her pain.  I was so touched that she called me to tell me she was thinking of me, such a selfless thing for someone who has been through so much.  It's an odd feeling, but there's something that makes me so grateful that I met her.  I think of her & her brother when I work at the WTC & I hope that brings her comfort.

See you Tuesday MD.

Training Plan

Last year, before I went to San Francisco to race in the Alcatraz tri, I signed up for a trainer, which turned out to be a complete disaster.  But I did take away a really good training plan.  Well, let me correct that, I found a really good online training website, the plan was deleted out of my account by the oh so spiteful trainer.

But I recently received an email from this training site, inviting me back to try them out again.  But this time I did some digging & found out that you can purchase the plans directly from them. Wow, if I was only as informed last year!  Anyway, I am thinking about trying it out again.  The website is called http://home.trainingpeaks.com/  it's a really great site.  There's so much information you can put into it & get out of it.  My one favorite part is that it is compatible with my Garmin watch.  You run, swim or bike & when you are finished, you can load that information right into the website & it will track your performance.

I'm not that much into technology, but this site is really cool & I really need to get back into shape.  Especially if I want to do any kind of triathlon next year.  I just skated by in NYC this year.  

I have a few more races planned for September & I know that I haven't been running, so I guess it is time to get back out there.  If only exercise was as excited as shopping!

10,000 hits & the MS Mudruckus

10,000 hits!  I can hardly believe it.  When I started this blog, it was only for fun to track my progress in training for a 70.3 Ironman.  Many have read all about my crazy journey to become a triathlete.  Not sure how it is turning out, but I can say I've participated in some really great races.  My goal for next year is to really work on my personal best times.

I have run a few races this summer, mainly in the horrible NJ heat & humidity & I've had a lot of fun.  This weekend a bunch of my friends are doing the MS Mudruckus.  5 miles of muddy fun for a good cause.  & as the summer winds down a race that is dear to my heart the Tunnel to Towers 5k.

It's been a fun summer & I want to say thanks to everyone who has logged in & read all about my crazy life.  I suspect that many have logged in to read about my Dallas updates, which I am totally remiss in reporting lately, so stay tuned!  I have a season wrap up coming later in the week!

Freedom!

You know what's great?  Freedom of Speech.  & you know what's even better?  When you speak the truth, you have nothing to worry about.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

2012 MS Mudruckus - West Orange, NJ

Another race?  Yep!  I guess it isn't a race though, it's more of an obstacle course.  We signed up as a team - team Dirty Jerzzzz, get it? Jersey?  Yeah, I know, but it's cute!  & we are planning on getting dirty that day!  I am hoping for cute matching shirts too.  But I guess they will be muddy matching shirts, but who cares, it's for a great cause - MS!  Not really sure how this all works, but I think it's all for fun & even though I think the course is 5 miles, I have a feeling it's going to go quickly!  Wish us luck!

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/MuckRuckus/NJMMUCKEvents?team_id=300394&pg=team&fr_id=18853

NYC Triathlon - Run

The last part of my big race was the run.  Now we all know (five faithful followers) that I am not a runner.  It is hard for me & frustrating since I can't seem to get much better.  I did feel pretty confident that I could make most of the run without walking.

The entire time I was on the bike I kept thinking about the run.  How it would be so nice to be jogging (not running - lets face it) in Central Park.  & that I would take it one mile at a time & run from water station to water station.  That's always my plan in these races - just get to the next water stop.

After the transition - I started out of Riverside Park & up 72nd Street.  It was really cool to be running in the middle of the city, down the middle of 72nd Street.  I can't explain it, but I kept thinking (as I ran past a ton of cheering people) that this must be what the NYC Marathon must be like the entire way - tons of cheering people.  As I entered the park there were lots of people.  I was a bit sad my friends missed me, but I didn't know how long I would be on the bike & I was finished an hour sooner than I thought.  But there were a lot of people at the entrance to the park, maybe about 1,000?  & I was surprised to see how fast the 1 mile mark came & went.  I made it to the first water stop & filled up, because I know that I definitely did not drink as much as I should have on the bike.  At about mile 2, I did encounter a hill & did walk for about 2 minutes, yeah disappointing, but I did feel a bit of a cramp coming on.

To be honest, I have been in Central Park tons of times, but never for a run & I wasn't really sure where I was in the Park.  I did start running at a certain point & made it past mile 3 & the next water stop.  There was a lot to see, so that kept me going.  I know I came around the reservoir & atone point asked someone where were & he said 110th Street.  OK, that's the top of the park!  Halfway there.  & yes, the 3 mile marker also let me know I was 1/2 way there as well!  I think it was at this point I came upon a sprinkler - which was really refreshing.  The Fifth Avenue side of the park was definitely a lot warmer than when I started.   I did walk a bit again up Cat Hill - I was tired, but then it dawned on me that I had less than 2 miles to go & I could do this.  Mile 5 clicked by & then I saw the museum.

Now years ago I watched Paul Tergat race to the finish in the NYC marathon right around this same spot.  I have no idea why I would remember this as it was in 2005 & I was definitely not a runner or in any running shape back then, but it was the only running memory I had of Central Park.  So weird, I know!  But as I past the museum all I wanted to do was finish before 11 am & before the 4 hour mark.  My goal was really 3 & 1/2 hours, but I think that's something I'm going to have to work on for next year.

I wound around the museum & then a few turns later I could see thousands of people still lining the race area & all I kept thinking was - where the hell is the finish line?  Someone yelled out 1/4 mile to go - but I think they were lying because I think I ran about another 1/2 mile before I finally crossed over the first timing pad & then over the finish line.

It was a great race & I was really excited that I finished.  Even though it was just at the 4 hour mark, I was glad because I hadn't really put in the effort I had in training for San Francisco & I still came out 45 minutes ahead of that time.  But I know there was a lot I could have improved upon.  Like my transition time, maybe not stopping to go to the bathroom after the bike & being a better runner.  But my main goal was to do this for the MS Society & raise money.  & I did it.

Next year I hope to get into this race again, but if not, I'd bet psyched to get on the MS team again.  It was a great experience.  & who doesn't love NYC?  Here's a pic of me after the race.  I was too gross to go into Chanel looking like this, so maybe I will get the chance to go this weekend!  Thanks for reading up on my race report!

2012 NYC Triathlon - Bike

The bike part is probably the best part of the race for me.  I don't know why I say that because one would think it would be the swim, but honestly, being wet & getting struck in the head with a fish, is well, gross!  Open water swimming is nothing like swimming in the pool.  The water is always dark & murky & lord knows what lurks 2' beneath you.  As it is you can't see the ends of your fingertips when you are in the water.  Which is unnerving to say the least.

I always have a really horrible swim to bike transition time.  Mostly it is because I insist on drying off & getting myself totally ready for the bike portion.  What do I care?  I'm not winning this race, so why not take my time & be prepared.  My only concern is not getting swept off the course because I exceed my bike time.  There was a longer run back to the transition area for the yellow transition area.  I think it was a mile.  I walked a bit & ran some.  But it's barefoot, on the asphalt path in Riverside Park.  It's not a fluffy blob of cotton balls.  So I walked most of it.  Again, who cares?  Not me.

Now, for everyone that has never been a part of a triathlon there's a lot of hubbub around the transition area.  There's always people running in & out (the ones the do care about their transition times) & usually you can piss a lot of people off if you are in their way or messing up their routine.  I try to stay out of the way & make my way out of the bike area at my own pace.  The funny part is watching a lot of these weekend warriors on their $5,000 bikes.  In the pre-race meeting the race director must have stressed over & over that you should leave the transition area in a low gear due to the steep climb out of Riverside Park.  OK, I guess I can remember that.  I think to myself, steep climb?  I was in San Francisco, these people know nothing of a steep climb.  Out of the park I go & wouldn't you know it, the guy in front of me pedals about 4 times and falls right over on his side.  After maneuvering around him, I had to laugh.  So much for your fancy Cervelo dude, you can't even ride it, or pay attention for that matter.

The bike portion wasn't that bad.  It was getting a bit warmer, but the ride was semi-hilly & really gave you a great view of a portion of Manhattan & the Bronx that I have never seen.  The bike route went north on the Henry Hudson Parkway towards the Cloisters & Fort Tryon Park, up the Moshalu & to Gun Hill Road.  Now if you've ever been in NYC traffic & listened to the traffic report, you'll know all these roads.  It was a good ride, all 25 miles of it & I felt pretty good on the bike.  My only complaint is that bike seats are probably the most uncomfortable piece of equipment ever made & well, lets just leave it at that.

Overall, I was pleased with my bike time.  It wasn't anything to write home about, but big kudos to The Red Bicycle in Red Bank for tuning up my bike for me before the race.  The new neck/stem/throat/whatever it is called really made a big difference for me.  & I am really considering aerobars, as sometimes I would like to lean further forward.  But that's something for next year.

Since the bike was so uneventful for me.....stay tuned for the run portion tomorrow!

& here's a pic of my tri-tat day 2.  They don't seem to be very temporary, now do they?

2012 NYC Triathlon - Swim

Hey everyone!  I'm back from NYC!  I can't believe the race has come & gone already.  It was a great day for a race, not too hot & definitely cooler than it has been the past few weeks.

The day started off yesterday - when I went into the city to pickup my race number.  We had to go to the Hilton for the mandatory race meeting.  & let me just say, this was the most well organized race I have ever raced.  The meeting went over everything we needed to know for all parts of the race.  & lets face it, NYC is a big place, with no time for nonsense.  So having a really great race director & organization was huge.  I can't say I have had the same experience for the other two big triathlons I have done.  

After all the hubbub at the Hilton, I was denied my guilty pleasure of walking a few blocks to 57th Street to visit Chanel.  Chanello!  Blasphemy!  We settled for Starbucks instead & we were off to rack my bike. 

A bit of confusion later (due to my not paying attention to which transition area I needed to go to) I get my bike situated & we were back to Hoboken for dinner!  I have to say it took us about 4 hours in the city & this girl was tired!  But being tired & sleeping don't always go hand in hand around here - so I probably got about 2 hours of sleep last night.  

My bike was in the yellow transition area, which opened at 4 am & closed at 5:15 am.  Well, that means this Jersey girl had to hike it back through the tunnel at 4 am.  Yep.  4 am.  Hats off to my BFF Mike who takes me everywhere & never complains.  He dumped me off at the corner of 79th Street at 4:17 am & was back to NJ for sleep.  Next year, I think staying at a midtown hotel may work more in my favor.  But it was convenient, even though I think we spent $36 at the Lincoln Tunnel for tolls.  You're welcome Port Authority!

I got myself situated in the transition area, which included finding my bike in the dark & hoping it was still there - it was!  Then I had to try to remember, in my half awake unconsciousness what I needed to bring with me to the swim start & what I needed to put in the Jet Blue bag for the finish.  No losing my sneakers like last year in San Francisco.

I got my age (not 40!) on my leg & then I was stuck trying to put on the tri-tats.  Now usually, when you race a triathlon, someone with a sharpie marker illegibly scribbles your race number on your arm & hand.  Well, NYC is not just any race, so they have tattoos.  Cool, right?  Yeah, no.  At 5 pm I still have 2 large 2275 numbers on my left & right arm.  I must have greasy hands because the hand tattoo was off about 1 hour into the race.

I had until 5:15 to get out of the transition area & I remembered everything.  I almost still can't believe it.  A mile walk to the start & we were ready.  My group volunteer was super nice & really helpful.  NYC gave all the swim volunteers a card with the swim order of all the age groupers.  I know this seems really silly, but it was huge!  He knew exactly who was in the water & when we were up next.  After waiting for a 1/2 an hour - the 40-44 (I'M 39 DAMN IT!) women were next. 

Down the gangplank we go to the swim barge & we had the option to jump or sit.  I was about to sit, so I could easily slide into the Hudson until I saw about 10 dead fish floating by the barge.  Um...pass.  Looks like a jump start!  The Hudson is much more saltier than I expected, but it has a quick current.  I think I did a mile in about 21 minutes.  Not bad considering I'm usually at about 37 minutes for 1.2 miles.  But besides the fast current, there is a lot of debris in the water.  Not fun.  At about the 900 m mark I got smacked in the face with a stick.  It was about 4' long.  Then I notice I am a bit to the left, kinda by the wall that hold back Riverside Park.  I look up & a kayaker is yelling to us, move away from the debris, move right & the current is faster.  Wish I had heard this about 2 minutes earlier - as no sooner were the words - move right out of his mouth, that I got smacked in the head with a dead fish.  & it stunk!  Lovely.  At least I wasn't the only one.  After the race I found a few other ladies talking about their dead fish experiences as well.   Only in NY!  I should be thanking my lucky stars it wasn't a body.

That was the swim portion.  The best part was the end, where I was greeted by hot firefighters yanking the ladies out of the water!  Now someone in NY is thinking!!!   I'll write more about the bike tomorrow!  Need to go rest my weary feet.  :)

2012 NYC Triathlon & the MS Society

I can't believe that in less that 48 hours I will be racing in this year's NYC Triathlon.  Last year I registered for the lottery for the race, but I didn't get in.  So I partnered with a charity & raised $2,500 for MS.  Some of you reading this know that my dear friend was diagnosed with MS last year & it has been a goal of mine to help raise as much money for MS as I could.  When I found out that I could race with the MS Society, I sent my application in the very first day.

I have to say, I knew that I would get picked.  I had experience racing in triathlons (ok, not much, but I wasn't a newbie) & I actually had raised money for the MS society in the past year.  I also raised money for the Stephen Siller Foundation - for the Tunnel to Towers Run in previous years.  I had a feeling that if I could show that I consistently raised money that I may have a better chance than others of making the team.

I have to admit, I was in a lot better shape last year for Alcatraz (even with all the mishaps that occurred during the race) & in prior years, but I feel confident this year.  I am not the best runner, but it's going to be super hot on Sunday, so slow jogging is acceptable in my book.  The swimming & biking, well after my quick workouts this week, I think I am ok.

I got in a quick swim tonight.  For some reason it was an easy swim, the outdoor pool was warm & I felt at ease.  Maybe I have come to terms with the race being two days away & I've done what I can.  Maybe I am just used to swimming that it's not that hard for me to swim for a half hour & not be tired?  Who knows?  I think it was the warm water.

Either way, I'm headed into NYC tomorrow (one of my most favorite places!) & hope to see some of my good friends cheering me on at the finish line!  Well, I would be ok with them not being there, especially if I have mishaps like in San Francisco, but this is NYC &  I'm an East Coast girl!

I want to say thanks to everyone that has contributed to my MS fund.  It means a lot to me that I have so many great friends that helped me reach my goal!  I definitely couldn't have done it without you guys!

See you Sunday for a post race report!

Ewing Oil - Back in Business

OK, even though I am a day late in watching Dallas, I must say - another excellent episode.  I know, you're all tired of me saying that.  But it was!  JR has stolen back (what was rightfully his in the first place) South Fork!  You may feel a tiny bit bad for Bobby, but I do not!  Come on, you let JR move back into the house, what did you expect?  That he was going to sit around looking through family albums & reminiscing?  No way!  He's back to put Ewing Oil back in business!

Where to start.  I don't even care about stupid Christopher (still not a Ewing) dumping Rebecca.  You knew that he was going to do that & try to run back to Elena, but good for her for pretending that she doesn't like him this week.  We'll see what happens next week.

JR shocks us all (well not me) & finagles his way back to owning the ranch.  Woo hoo!  Let the drilling begin.  But first, let me just fly on out of here in my handy dandy helicopter - because after making my big debut at the new Texas Stadium with my BFF Jerry Jones, I just have to skedaddle & leave John Ross to run things.  Hmmmmm.....big mistake?  Or ingenious plan?  I am thinking ingenious plan!

I think we were all surprised that Bobby's wife Ann was married to some Ryland Oil Trucking guy, who seems a little sleazy, like all Texas tycoons, but I sense more is to come from this weird turn of events.

I can't decide what my favorite part of the episode was.  Was it the look on Bobby's face when he figured out JR had tricked him out of South Fork?  Or maybe it was everyone breaking into John Ross' condo.  Sure, that happens every day.  I always come home & find CDs & weird people waiting for me in my house.  Oh wait, that has happened to me too.  OK, totally normal.  This is why I love this show....because it is totally believable!

I still can't decide what I want to happen.  I am not totally sold on Jesse Metcalfe, but since he is so smoking hot, I will let him bore me with his goody two shoes act for a bit longer.  I hope Elena & him do end up together, but I think she's going to stick it out with John Ross.  Why?  Who knows?  Next week she'll be in love with Rebecca's stupid brother Tommy.  Because that's the way it is at South Fork.  & who cares?  Because I am beginning to think it is the best show on TV.  See you next Wednesday at 9 pm!

Wounded Warriors Visit 9/11 Memorial & Remind Americans About The Price Of Freedom « CBS New York

Wounded Warriors Visit 9/11 Memorial & Remind Americans About The Price Of Freedom « CBS New York

The last frame shows the flag I placed on the memorial this morning.  1810.

Not a Runner

It's true.  Sad, but true, I am not a runner.  Sure, I have run a ton of 5ks, 5 milers & even the Broad Street 10 in 2010, but it's probably one of the only sports I've tried (except basketball) that I just can't get any better at.  4 years, and lots of miles later, it's not working.  Now, I'm not feeling sorry for myself at all, because in these 4 long years I've really come a long way.  Swam across the San Francisco Bay, ran 10 miles in Philly, run the same steps as a firefighter on the way to the World Trade Center & even made it 63 miles into a half ironman.  But it's the running that always gets me in the end.  And let me preface all this by saying, it's not from lack of trying, but more of a pieced back together ankle which was once broken in 6 lovely places.

The other morning as I made my way down to the running trail to meet my long time trainer & friend Suzanne I was so grumpy.  Why?  Well, it was 7 am & it was already 85 degrees & she was going to make me run.  Yes, make me.  Grudgingly,  I legged out the 6 miles, with minimal stopping (one water stop) & then rewarded myself with a half hour in the pool.  20 minutes into the swim I looked at my friend Suzanne & said, THIS.  IS.  BORING.   & you know what?  I looked around the pool, at everyone swimming laps & thought to myself, I have spent 34 years of my life in a pool, soaking wet, swimming laps.  That was the sport that I loved, not running & certainly not biking.  Biking, although a great way to get around, is not fun either.  I like that I can ride around & see the sights, but I'm not a racer girl.  I want to be the girl riding the pink beach cruiser in a sundress, while wearing flip flops.  That's the bike girl I am.

So, after a lot of thinking & a lot of gimping out runs, I think I may hang up this run, bike, swim stuff.  & I know I say that even after I have 6 other races planned this year, but I think it's time I put the bike in storage & pick up my old friend the tennis racket.  My first true love after swimming.  I would swim every year from Alcatraz if I could.  I used to want to swim the English Channel, until I found out that it was 22 miles & you needed to grease yourself up with lard (or lanolin - but still - nasty).  I think I will start small, with a swim around the Statue of Liberty & maybe a long term goal of being part of the Manhattan relay team.  Yes, relay.  Around the island.  Of Manhattan.  I know I can do it.

& I'm not saying I will never run again, but for now, I don't want to torture myself when I know that I'll never be able to run a 7, 8 or even a 9 minute mile.  But I know that I can swim & I know that I have a killer backhand.  So I think it's time to get back to what I know I am good at.  Not to say that you won't see me on Sunday mornings running the boards in Spring Lake, because that's my turf.  & nothing is better than salt air & the wind at your back.

One week to go!

One week left to the NYC Triathlon.  Hard to believe.  I don't think I am ready, but I am committed to following through on this.  I went for a 6 mile run yesterday & a 1/2 hour swim.  The swim was the easiest part.  & it was AFTER the 6 mile run.

The worst part, besides the running of course, was the fact that it was 90 degrees at about 9 am.  Ugh.  I am hoping that it won't be that hot in NYC next week.  Lets all keep our fingers crossed, shall we?  More swimming & biking to come this week & of course Happy 4th of July to everyone!

JR Ewing & Dallas - Episode 3

Hello 50 faithful followers!  Thanks for stopping by to read all about JR Ewing & Dallas.  What a great episode last night!  Yes, I know, I wrote that last week & the week before.  But it was!  I cannot get over how great the writing is for this remake!

First off, we are back to the whole Christoper (still not a Ewing) & his quest to feel included in the Ewing family.  OK Jesse Metcalf, you are boring, & if you weren't so smoking hot I would be so over you by now. But you are hot, so that keeps me semi-interested in your story.  & lets stop pretending to be mean to Elena so she will not like you & you will not have to choose between her & Rebecca.  We have all been to the 4th grade, so we've been there/done that.  Wise up already & figure out what is up with your wife & her creepy brother.  Because if you don't, they're going to steal all the methane gas from the sea floor out from under you & you will be pounding nails into that fence in South Fork for the foreseeable future.

The whole birthing of the calf thing was a nice feel good moment too, but really, if you're not blackmailing someone or trying to steal South Fork, I'm going to grow tired of you quickly.  P.S.  Thanks for the shirtless moment though, as that kept me paying attention.

John Ross, our favorite black sheep of the Ewing clan is drowning his sorrows in the swankiest of bars, you know because most oil rigger guys go to chic chic bars to drink bud out of the bottle.  But he does drive a Ferrari so maybe that's where the billionaire black sheep go.  Elena lures him out of his funk with some "I've got some oil that needs a drillin!" and they are back to being at item.....or maybe not.

The most interesting & confusing part of this episode is who the hell is Marta Del Sol & why is she in on stealing South Fork.  JR figured out last night that her name is actually Veronica & (as he so nicely stated) is crazier than an outhouse rat.  Again, phrases to be filed away for usage by myself at a later date.  I think my favorite part was watching her chase down her lithium with some champagne.  Ah, you have to love the crazy girls.

Besides that & the big last hoorah BBQ at South Fork, next week seems to be a big one.  We finally see a big fight & JR looks like he's going to go at it with Bobby.  This should be a good one.  Thanks for reading!  See you next week at 9 pm!

Watch Me

For those who read my blog, but don't personally know me.......I saw this online the other day.  It pretty much sums up my life to this point.

More about Dallas & JR Ewing

OK, I had lots of hits on my blog last week & after looking at the statistics, I'm thinking that there are lots of people reading about Dallas.  Well why not, it was awesome!  8,008 hits to date, thanks everyone!  I have previously written that I'm not much of a TV watcher & besides the Real Housewives of NJ (hey I'm a Jersey Girl!) & Fox News, I really don't watch much. All that changed two weeks ago with the return of JR Ewing.

This week was only one hour (boo!) but it was still great.  Cliff Barnes, the man who stole Ewing Oil from JR, was back - you know since he's Christopher's (still not a Ewing) uncle.  I love how he commented about how Pam just "disappeared" so many years ago.  Can we all smell a return of Pam at the season finale?  Well, I can.  I'm still not sold on the John Ross character, he's cute & drives Range Rover, but he's no JR, he has a lot to learn.  Especially when it comes to trying to trick JR.

Now years ago when I was in college & watched Melrose Place, I used to send out a silly email to about 20 friends recapping the Thursday night show.  Totally hokie, but people liked it.  My friend Amy still talks about it to this day, ok listen we are lame, but it was a great recap!  & everyone loves Dr. Peter Burns, well...not everyone......

So scheming JR pays some old guy in the nursing home to call Bobby & tell him that it would help JR immensely if he let him move back to South Fork, you know, to recuperate.  & of course, Bobby being Bobby says - well alrighty!  Oh Bobby, when will you learn?

Five minutes later JR is back at South Fork (an walking through some crazy side door) & voila - let the games begin.....but wait!  The next scene brings back JR's oldest nemesis.....CLIFF BARNES.  Say it ain't so!

I think my most favorite line of the night came when JR sees Cliff Barnes sitting in Bobby's study - he says - Time has not been kind to that face.  I'm going to have to remember that line for when I meet people later in life.  It's a good on for sure!

Lots of other silly things happened in this episode with the younger generation, but lets be serious...do we really care about Christopher (still not a Ewing) & John Ross?  OK, maybe a little.  But not as much at JR & Bobby!

I'll keep writing about JR as long as everyone keeps reading along.  Thanks to the statistics counter on Google, I'll let you know if it's popular or not.

So feel free to leave a comment if you like my Dallas recap, or not!  Whatever!  See ya Wednesday at 9 pm!

16 more days til the NYC Triathlon

Here it is, my official race jersey!  

I'm so nervous now, because in a little more than 2 weeks I will be in NYC.  I think I have to get there at 4 am to set up in the transition area.  Wish me luck, because I am going to need it!

NYC Triathlon

I received a phone call from the Aquafor NYC Triathlon this week.  Yes, a phone call.  They were doing some media coverage on the event.  I asked if perhaps they had the wrong number, as I had no idea why they would be calling me for any "media" information.  LOL.  All of a sudden, I'm semi-famous.  More like infamous.  But anyway.......

They told me that the race is 19 days away, are you excited?  Um...sure, if excitement comes in the form of being terrified, then sure I'm excited.

I have had the worst preparation for this race.  I am not going to lie.  I've yet to get out into the open water & I haven't done any brick workouts.  It was 98 degrees here in NJ & instead of going to the gym last night I went shopping for dog food.  How's that for preparation?  & no, I didn't even carry the 50 lb. bag of dog food to the car, I had someone else do it.  Lazy.

So for the next 15 or so days, no time off.  Brick workouts & lots of weight lifting.  Ha ha ha I'm laughing as I type this.  I hate weights.  Oh well.  What can you do?  Take it one day at a time & pray that the current in the Hudson is quick, so my swim portion is easy peasy.  I keep saying to myself, I swam from Alcatraz last year, I can swim 3/4 of a mile in NYC, right?  Right.

Here we go............

Dallas & JR Ewing!

There's got to be more than running, swimming & biking on this blog, right?  Well, I have to tell you no one was more excited than I was last night at the return of Dallas.  It was one of my favorite shows growing up & I was psyched when I heard they were making a return to TV.

Now I'm not much of a TV watcher.  Yes, I have TV on all the time at my house, but mostly it's the news or a dumb reality show playing in the background while I putter around.  But there are very few shows I will plan on watching.  Dallas, is one of them.

I'm not going to rehash the episode because it was 2 hours long, but lets just say it exceeded my expectations.  JR Ewing is/was one of the most evil people on TV, but I can't help but to love him.  Nothing was better then seeing him come out of his catatonic state last night so that he could scheme his way back to stealing South Fork from Bobby.  Some may say it is cheesy, but I don't care.  I loved every minute of it.

& I know what some of your are thinking, but what about Bobby?  Yeah, yeah I love Bobby too, but JR, come on.  Nothing is better than a conniving, manipulating snake in the grass like JR.  He's out to screw everyone & there's just something about that that I love!  Seeing Suellen was great too.  Linda Gray is 71 & she looks awesome!  & now she's going to be the governor.  Guess you CAN drink  your way out of a bottle. Go Suellen!

There were a few parts that I absolutely loved...like the part where Christopher's (not really a Ewing) new wife met with his stepmother so she could give her a wedding gift.  The family recipes.  Hey Ann, this is Dallas, you're worth billions, screw the scrapple recipe, how about a Ferrari.  Do you have one of them lying around?  Or a 25 carat pair of earrings?  G6?  Come on, I loved Miss Ellie, but no one is looking for the Ewing Family Grits recipe.

Did I also mention that I love JR?  Oh wait, yes, I think I may have - about 10 times.  Who cares?  His evilness renews my faith in humanity.  Yes, I know, not so nice, but who cares?  Life isn't fair all the time.  & the one who dies with the most toys wins.  I saw that on a t-shirt once.

OK, I should probably stop writing about Dallas, as it's so silly & teenage girly girl of me, but there's nothing like a good old 80s soap opera remake.  Fortunately, this remake is just as good as the original, but seriously....where's Pam?

Hope you all enjoyed my lame update on one of my favorite 80s shows.

NYC Triathlon

Less than a month to go!  Ready?  Set?  No!  Not ready.  Never ready.  Totally freaked out about swimming in the Hudson.  Not like last year when  I swam in the phosphorescent San Francisco Bay, but this is New York.  There's crud, there's debris, there's probably a dead body floating by!  I was in Hoboken on Sunday looking down into the Hudson & there was a huge log, no pylon, just floating on by.  It had to be about 9 feet long.  How would you like to swim into that?  I don't.  Maybe I could hang on it & float.

Honestly, it's not the swimming that gets me, it's the fact that the water is so murky & yucky that you can't see the ends of your fingertips as they are out in front of you.  I did notice the current is quite quick, so that will do most of the work I hope!

My bike is sitting here, in front of me, with two semi flat, ok very flat! tires.  But at least it is out of the box & ready to go on the road.  Almost.  Hey, what can I say, I've been a busy girl!  & sometimes life gets in the way of even the best laid plans.

So here I sit, typing away, instead of doing sit ups (yeah right, like I do those) or planning a workout schedule or doing some much needed work!  Yes, work gets in the way of life too around here.   & as I sit here, listening to Louie snore away I have to start making up plans to figure out how fast I can get in & out of the Hudson, up the West side & into Central Park.  As I think that's the route.  It would be nice to figure that out ahead of time.  Right?  Right.  Dummy.

Here's a pic of the Hudson from the Hoboken side.  You can see the Empire State Building to the right of the boat.  Gee, I hope that boat isn't in the way on July 8th!

Next week I am off to the city to pick up my race gear & try to get a long run in at Central Park, which is something I have been wanting to do this whole year & get a lay of the land.  It will be a much needed change of scenery from what's been going on around here.  I've always tried to do my own thing & be my own self.  I'm not in this to be the best, I'm in it to raise funds for MS, for my good friend, who has always stuck by me.  She's the best!  See you in Central Park in July!

Just Another Day in June

Here's a view of the Navesink from the Oceanic bridge.  I'll be swimming here tomorrow.  Most likely a slow swim, but I'm ok with that.  I'm taking things slow lately.  Finishing is the most important thing.  Not going to sweat the small stuff any longer.  I think this is the other side of the Oceanic Bridge, not the exact swim location, but you get the gist.  I'm sure you won't be seeing any pics of me in my wetsuit looking like a seal.  Egads!!!

& here's something I found the other day online, while I was reading something, most likely on Facebook or Twitter.  I usually don't believe in corny or inspirational quotes, but this one was a good one.....

Pretty good, right?  Well here's another one for ya....since I'm feeling super inspirational today for some sappy reason....

OK back to being my cantankerous, bitchy self.  :)

23 Miles & Swimming in the Sink

23 miles.  That's how far I ran this week.  Yes, I know some people run 26 miles in a day, but not me.  I am not a runner.  I consider myself a pretend runner.  But I did it.  & it is the furthest I've ever run in a single week.  Go me!  Tonight I am back to swimming in the Navesink.  How gross is that?  Well, it's not that gross, but open water swimming is not my favorite thing.  It's kinda slimy.

Have a great weekend everyone!  Maybe I'll see you at mile 25 next week.

Spring Lake Five

Here's a picture of us from the Spring Lake Five & I just realized that my Guinness hat gets a workout.  I think I wear it in every single race.  I'm such a weirdo!  I wish I could say it's my lucky hat, but I'm not too sure about that!  LOL.

Spring Lake Five Hundred Degrees

Oh so how is everyone out there celebrating Memorial Day?  Hope you are having a good time & make sure to thank a soldier!  For some of you that read my blog from places outside the United States, Memorial Day is always observed the last Monday in May to honor all the men & women who have died while serving in the Armed Forced protecting our freedom.  It's also the kickoff to summer here & with that there's a lot of parties, BBQs & of course parades to honor Veterans.

As with all summers here on the Jersey Shore, there's the Spring Lake 5.  This year was my third year running it.  It was super hot & not my best run.  Probably my worst.  Not to mention it was unbearably hot & my knee is just not the knee of a runner.  I don't care what the doctor said, it hurts at times & I am beginning to think five miles may be my limit.  I shouldn't complain, but it just wasn't my day & even though I started the day with great intentions, things just didn't go my way.

Many of you (thanks five faithful followers) have followed my antics of running, biking & swimming for the past two years.  I hope I haven't bored you.  I try to be super honest & hopefully funny, maybe not funny to some, but hey, I try!  But it's not always easy to pick yourself up & dust yourself off when you get kicked in the gut.  

& I don't usually complain about things, or try not to on my blog, but yesterday was a bad day & even though I consider myself a fun, positive person, it's hard to look back & pick up some pieces of your life when you were hoping some of those pieces were buried somewhere deep under a rock.  Under a rock with a big tractor trailer parked on top.

But I've realized in lately that you can't change things or people & you can't look back, because you're not headed that way.  You always have to look forward.  Easier said than done right?  Right.

So this morning, I got up, put on my favorite running shoes & gimped out another 5 miles.  I may never be the best runner, but I'm never giving up.  Have a great Memorial Day!

Survivor Tree

As many of you know I volunteer at the 9/11 Memorial.  There's a tree that has been replanted, fittingly named, the Survivor Tree.  I have enclosed a link (credits to & courtesy of our Volunteer coordinator) where you can see it & note that there is now a happy family of birds living there.

This tree - a Callery Pear Tree is a pretty normal tree, nothing unusual or extraordinary, but a nice tree with pretty flowers.  Not a pear tree like the kind we see in the produce market, but a flowering fruit with tiny berries usually eaten by birds. Forgive me for I'm not a tree expert or arborist, I'm just giving you the few facts that I know.  Anyway, the tree was one of the trees planted at the WTC site.  This particular tree was unearthed from the rubble on Halloween 10/31/01.  It was placed in a pile of garbage, to be discarded until one of the rescue volunteers (who was an environmentalist or tree expert - again not 100% sure of his title) noted that it could be saved.  This pear tree is a hardy tree that grows well & remarkably thrives.  The only thing that usually kills this tree is high winds, or storms, but not this tree.  Found under tons of rubble, it was plucked from the site, taken to Van Cortland Park in the Bronx & nursed back to health.  I have heard from a number of sources, that it was also struck by lightning while in the Bronx.  Crazy, right?  I will have to remember to take a close up picture of the tree next time I am there so you can see the difference in the regrowth.  The difference in the bark is amazing & the 30' in regrowth is as well.

The tree was replanted at the WTC site in December of 2010.  I can also tell you that seeds from this tree were taken & are set to be grown & replanted at the Shanksville, PA site as well.  I believe the goal of the arborist is to replant one tree from seeds grown from the survivor tree in every community where there is a 9/11 memorial.

But back to the birds........I noticed on April 16th (Jerry's birthday) when I was working that a bird had taken a liking to this high up perch.  I had no idea it had been building a nest there.  & only a month later, here's the great news, that a family has picked this tree (of all trees at the site - although the rest are still very young & probably not an ideal place for a bird condo) to live!  Very cool indeed.  The birds have also been spotted drinking from the waterfalls.  Just goes to show that nature always finds a way.

I have enclosed a local news link, for those who want to see the replanting.  Enjoy!

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=7857410

Into the Abyss

You know when you go & do something & then you think for a minute, wait, what was I thinking?  I always do that & yesterday was probably the biggest - what was I thinking kind of day!

For a long time I've been thinking about venturing into real estate.  & no, I didn't sign up to become a real estate agent, but I've always want to do that on the side, or be a florist.  Which is actually laughable, as I do not have a creative or artistic bone in my body.  But that's another story in & of itself.

Last night I took the plunge & put an offer in on a house.  I should say revised offer, as I had gone back & forth a bit with the owner.  After looking a few houses in varying parts of the same neighborhood, I settled on one that was a tiny bit over my price range, but still a good deal.  There were two that I thought were a bit better, but one was not in the best neighborhood & the other one was sold as quickly as it came on the market Sheesh!  No luck there.

The risky part is that I am buying this as an investment property.  & along with that comes all the headaches of being someones landlord.  Yeah yeah, I know, say what you want about real estate as an "investment" these days, but you know what?  They're not making any more land, so something tells me that I'm making a sound choice here.  That years from now when I have accumulated (remember I'm a hoarder) some decent properties, I can sell them all & go live in my dream house on the beach!  Hey, a girl has to have a dream, right?

But if you're wondering, this is what I think about when I am running.  All these silly thoughts of what am I going to do for my future, as up until now that has consisted of investing in Gucci, Prada & Manolo.  & while beautiful things do make me happy, they don't really have much of a return on the original investment.  But back to my running, which hasn't been much lately. Twice this week thanks to good old Mother Nature, who has not been very cooperative weather wise.  But it looks like a great weekend coming up & I hope to get outside & get some great runs in, because I know that will help clear my mind of all the anxiety I've been having about emptying my bank account into this new money pit.

Have a great weekend everyone!