dreaming over the ocean

surely, this cannot be true.  but, alas.  i can see the end of the summer. in a mere 4 weeks , I will be one day post my last race of the season, and 1 day pre-leaving for africa. HOLY CRAP! it feels like there is so much time left, but also so little.  Scheduling is crazy and time is ticking away.  between now and then, there are weddings to attend on the west coast, "inlaws" to visit with, training to be done, Rx's to be picked up (yup. the doc convinced me to go on malaria prophylaxis), bags to move and people to visit with, work to do, and school work to be formatted.  oh yeah.  a lot of finger crossing and god praying to be had that my trip to Malawi is not a total gongshow. Anyway, i was down in Canmore this weekend, supporting and cheering and volunteering for the boy I like love's  24 Hour of Adrenalin   corporate team.  Like last year, it was a load of fun, I had a (marginally) better volunteer position, and I...

so, the other day, I had the first conversation where training got in the way of "life."  I mean, there have been other times, but, this time was the first time I had a conversation where I realized that not everyone thinks that my way of prioritizing is "normal." the conversation went something like this, at about 10 pm: "well, I have a 2-hr bike ride for sometime tomorrow and swim practice in the morning.  And a dentist appointment.  and work.  Do you want to join me for the bike ride?" "hmmm, sure, that sounds good.  What time?" "Well, I was thinking after I get back from work." "when are you working until?" "7pm" "ummmm.  you want to ride at 7:30, for 2 hours?  when are you doing to eat dinner?" "well, after?" "errrr... isn't eating just as important as training?" "well, yes.  but, i will  eat.  just after riding." .... quizzical  stare. "i mean, it...

One of the things that I said to the boy that I like love, when I first started dating him was "Listen up, buddy.  I am flexible with a lot of things, but, one of those things is NOT living in Edmonton for the rest of my life.  I just will not do it.  SO, if you plan on this being a long-term relationship, you need to realize that you will have to eventually move out of this city."   That was 3 weeks in. and, his response?  "Eh.  Ok.  I'm good with that.  I've just been looking for an excuse to move anyway." but, all that being said, It means that I have spent the last two summers in this city.  And, I don't mind, because I get to be with him.  However, what I do mind, is the mosquitos.  They are so bad, they are covered by our national news.    and, of course, the local newspaper .  Swarmed by blood thirsty mosquitos. i hate that. however, all that being said, the summer is not that bad in this city.

so, i have been back from my holiday for about a month.  and, I have not yet written about the rest of my holiday. Not because I haven't wanted too (it has been waiting in my "edit" box).  But, this summer has been busy (HA!  as if my life is never not busy).  So, in memory, here is my Hawaii post, holiday edition.  remember, it was written quite a while ago. in arriving back to Canada, i think that edmonton weather has had me in the ultimate state of revenge.  Since getting back (last monday morning, 10 days ago) there has not been one nice day of weather until yesterday.  10 days of sunshine in hawaii.  10 dreaded days of rain in edmonton.  I even had to do my long saturday ride on the trainer!  UGH!  it is JUNE!  but, at least I am not in Saskatchewan (or north dakota, for that matter), where the rain and flooding is causing people to evacuate. so, in order to remember the sunshine, here is my post about the rest of the ho...

So, after a 1/2 ironman, and two olympic distance Events in less than a month, all I can say is..... PHEW!  my body hurts!     Honestly, I always say that I love racing so much more than training.  I mean, if there is not a goal at the end of the tunnel, why would we bother?  but honestly, at the end of the day, your body just says WHOA.  slow down there. and, it is that time.  I have a rest week this week.  I might even skip my ever-loved outdoor pool master's class.  I  will only race another two races this season.  A 10km trail run in mid-July, and a 1/2 iron on the 21st of August.  Then, it will be off to my love.  Then, it will be off to Africa. There is so much to do between now and then.  Like the getting my eyeglasses.  And the dentist appointments.  and the doctor appointment (all this week). and the waiting for my new passport. and the applying for a Malawi Student Visa.  and buying a plane ...