Friday Fifteen

I realized that it's Friday and that I claimed I would be doing the Friday 15 on, well, Fridays. Hopefully you all can stand more than one post from me this Friday... and hopefully I'll be able to come up with 15 things to say.

1. Don't let the rumors fool you. Arkansas is a beautiful place. Don't take my word for it, visit the blog Mabel's House (see side bar for link). You'll probably end up following my wonderful friend Liz on her adventures and be happy you visited!

2. Speaking on Mabel's House, I really need to start using more pictures in my blog. I've been carrying around my camera and even taking some pictures here and there, but always forget to download and then re-upload. I'll work on it, promise.

3. Especially because there was a baby deer in the back yard today. Gorgeous ... and I got a picture, even if it's cute little face was pointed in the wrong direction. I think Mommy Deer was calling it back into the preserve.

4. I really took the picture to show the girls, as they're in love with the deer that end up in our backyard... but I got myself to download it so I could share with you all.

5. I love flowers. I say this because my parents went to the grocery and brought me back white and yellow daisies "for my birthday" which isn't for another few weeks. Flowers make me happy! I have them in my office for some cheer. (Artwork courtesy of the wonder twins.)

6. The only sad thing about flowers is they die. Of course, I read something once that indicated that at the outset that was the whole point of cut flowers... to remind you that the beauty of life is fleeting and to be treasured while it lasts. Perhaps that's why I like them so much!

7. I have a lot of useless knowledge from things I've read. If only I could turn that into real cash. I'm no Jeopardy champion as I only know random bits of things... a lot of random bits of things. I can hold my own in the living room, but those people are faster than I am on the clickers. Plus, I get a second chance when my 1st answer is wrong.

8. I hate the smell of pee. This, of course, poses a problem while potty training little children. I have a nose that can smell pee a mile away. I knew Ladybug had dribbled in her pants one day before anyone else even had a clue. I kept asking her and she kept saying no and finally I told her she had to take off her underpants to show Mommy they were dry because I smelled pee on her. She fessed up.

9. I can't understand why Ladybug would be willing to walk around with pee in her britches. I'm really good about dealing with her accidents and tell her that I am not angry with her and that she needs to listen to her body and not ignore it when it tells her she has to go pee. She hates poo in her pants and (knock on wood) doesn't do that anymore. But why the pee?

10. I knew you all REALLY wanted to hear about today was pee.

11. We're having chicken stir fry for dinner tonight. Nanna said she wanted to cook it and she and Poppop headed off to the grocery for the marinade she wanted to use and chicken that wasn't pre-cooked. I'm a fan of the grilled chicken breast that's pre-cooked. It makes my life easy, but I guess it's not too good for marinating.

12. I laughed when Nanna asked if Angelfish and Ladybug liked rice. If it's a carbohydrate, my kids love it. Another good reason I hope they get into sports, with a secret place in my heart hoping they want to do triathlons with Mommy. They're fast as can be on their little trikes and when they run and they love the water. They'd probably beat me soundly in every race, but how cool would it be for the 3 of us to do triathlons together.

13. Guess I should focus on getting them to learn how to swim if I want those tri dreams to come true.

14. Of course, I only want them to do triathlons if they want to do them. Mr. Darcy would like them to play golf and tennis with him. Grammie and Poppop both would like them to play the piano. Nanna hopes they like crafts some day. Funny how we love to share what we love with the little people we love.

15. Speaking of the people I love, I'm really looking forward to this weekend with Mr. Darcy, my little ladies, and my parents. Not sure what we'll do, but I'm sure it will be fun!

Whew... 15. Stream of consciousness works every time. I'll try to remember my Friday 15 for next week so you don't endure double posting. And I'll even include more pictures!

Dastardly Irony

Yep, dastardly irony. Yesterday in my blog I said "No, I did not skip my ... workout. (With less than 8 weeks left to race day? Are you kidding?)" And I meant it. But in this full moon (which I have now decided has been the cause of all of my craziness and nothing seeming to go quite right this week - minor troubles popping their heads up at every corner), I should have known not to tempt fate. Fate it seems has a sense of irony (to borrow a line from The Matrix movies).

I had blood work to do this morning to re-check my thyroid and cortisol levels because 2 months ago my thyroid appears to be within normal parameters, but my cortisol levels were very high. Of course, the blood work was done the week after the weight discussion with Mr. Darcy meaning I was a bit, well, overly emotional. The doctor ordered a recheck and after my internet research about all the things high cortisol could mean (every thing from anxiety disorders to cancer to just plain unexplained levels), I figured I should definitely get it rechecked.

I had my swimsuit on, my bag packed for the gym, my breakfast for after the bloodwork (since my doctor wanted me to fast beforehand) gear for my drills. I was tired but determined. I told myself if I got in the pool I'd feel less tired after a bit and I'd be adding miles to my tank for the 70.3. I was ready and willing.

Unfortunately, even with my scheduled appointment the full moon took it's effect after I tempted it with my statement yesterday. The appointment took too long and if I went to swim I would be seriously late to work. At first I thought I'd be able to go at lunch time, until I remembered that I have a chiropractor appointment that is using up my lunch break. I unwillingly am having to skip my swim today. Not a happy camper about that.

At this point, there really is not much I can do about it but blog and register my complaint with our dastardly friend, Irony.

In other news, Ladybug really cut back on her tantrums for most of this week... until this morning. It's not so bad when it's not every day and it's in small bits. Of course, she's having 1-2 potty accidents each day, usually because she's using whether she goes to the bathroom to exercise some sort of control over things and then realizes right as she can't hold it any longer that she can't hold it any longer and pees a bit before making it to the potty. If she continues this today, I'm going to tell her that I don't care if she goes to the potty but that the other little kids might not want to play with someone that smells like pee pee and that they might not let her move up to a new class room if she doesn't use the potty, and let ther know the choice is all hers. I'm already enduring enough pee to frustrate me, so if a little reverse psychology works more power to me. I just have to get Mr. Darcy on board too.

Angelfish has, all in all, stopped whining... thank goodness! She has been super sweet and has returned to loving on her Mommy. This morning she wanted to go with me for my blood work and when I told her that they were going to have to stick a needle in my arm to get the blood she said, "I like it!" I think she might become a doctor. Angelfish knows the word for stethescope and what it is used for, likes to look at cuts and ask daily if they are feeling better (until they are gone), has a good bedside manner, likes the pop up books at the book store about the human body that show the organ systems and internal stuff, and likes to wash her "hands" by washing with soap all the way to her elbows and sometimes almost to the elbow. If that doesn't scream "I'm gonna be a doctor when I grow up," I'm not quite sure what does. With our family history, a cardiologist would be good to have around.

My parents are in town and as always are a big help. Just this morning Nanna folded laundry and washed sheets, Poppop did dishes, changed the water in Angelfish's flowers (she asked if she could buy some at Costco this weekend and we let her since she had been so good all weekend long - she chose peach colored roses), and went to the grocery. I always tell them that they don't need to do any housework, but they like keeping busy.

Last night we had a birthday celebration for Nanna (even though her birthday isn't until Monday), and the girls loved giving her their gifts. Nanna was a big sport and shared the slinky bracelets that Angelfish gave her with the girls, and fawned over the stuffed monkey that makes monkey noises that Ladybug gave her. Ladybug did a great impression of the monkey too. I think Nanna might have to watch out because Ladybug really loves that monkey!

Tomorrow is a rest day, and Sunday I have a brick consisting of a 45 mile bike followed by a 6 mile run. It will be the most mileage I've ever done in one day, so I'm a little nervous but I'll be with Ryan (and any other team members that decide they want to join us) so that will calm the nerves a bit. I just don't like doing those long distances by myself if I can help it... besides it's much more fun to have someone to join you in self-torture, I mean, self-improvement!

So let's hope the full moon and it's friend Irony will be busy elsewhere this weekend!

Problem Solved... Sort Of

Remember how I was wondering how to go about wearing my blood pressure monitor while on my bike workout this morning? The problem solved itself. No, I did not skip my bike workout. (With less than 8 weeks left to race day? Are you kidding?)

At 4:15 this morning I sat straight up in bed. About 15 minutes earlier I heard my blood pressure monitor doing its thing. But at 4:15 it did it again. It made all the sounds it should have, but I realized (somehow in my sleepy state) that I didn't feel any squeezing on my arm. I felt along the cuff and determined that it was no longer attached to that box that was now blowing air and making a rather annoying noise. The tube that connected the cuff to the box had come undone, or so I thought. Poor Mr. Darcy turned on the light for me and I found that not only had it come "undone" but it was completely severed with no hope of reattachment. I told Poor Mr. Darcy to go back to bed and asked "What can I do?" There was nothing to even attempt to duct tape, so I decided to bike without it and call the doctor's office when I got back. I seriously doubt the cardiologists were at the office at 4:15 am!

So it solved itself. My ride was a good one. Coach is trying to teach me to pace line so she and I worked on that a little bit while the others who know how to pace line, road well, in pace line. I fear being in a pace line. Images appear in my head of people crashing into one another, bike tires meeting in disastrous ways. I'm not generally a fearful person. I've jumped from airplanes and think it's fun. I'm the mother of twins. I'm the person who stays calm in emergencies. I decided that it's because my brain really likes me and likes the idea of self preservation; and while yes, drafting really does make it easier to go faster, being only a few inches from the tire in front of me gives me pause. Literally. I pause my pedaling.

Today we worked on it. It was great because at one point I looked down and was relatively close to Coach (about a foot away) and I was going 19 mph! I'm not sure how long we had been going 19 mph, but still. I'm getting there. After a little pace line work, we worked on hills. In particular, Coach showed me how to pedal standing up. I know, you just stand up and keep pedaling. But you have to remember, I didn't ride bikes as a kid. I learned and then my bike sat there until Dad sold it. I only started riding a bike less than 1 year ago, so my skills basically have consisted of getting on the bike and pedaling. But, we worked on that for about 5 minutes, which wasn't too bad.

Then hill repeats. Technically 14 (if you count the one one the way to the airport too), but only 13 were intended to be hill repeats. The first one was hard. Heck, they were all hard. The second one included some lovely tightening of my hip flexor. The 3rd back pain. Somewhere along the way it got easier... toward the end, even if I did say to Coach "I think I hate hills." I was super excited with my performance. My 12th hill repeat was with 87 cadence and at 16.8 mph. My last hill repeat? 90 cadence and 17.1 mph. Yeah Baby! Hopefully I'll be able to walk later.

I started the morning exhausted. You would be too if you had something squeezing the bejeesle out of your arm once an hour every hour, and then got up at 4:15 am. Not to mention still have muscle pain from those squats and walking lunges on Monday. As Ryan said, it makes you want to do those over and over again until they don't make you sore anymore... besides, imagine how strong you'd be. At the end of the ride, I was invigorated and pain free... at least until the end of the 30 minute drive home.

Then I called the doctor's office. I have no barriers, evidently, because when the nurse asked if I could come in right then, I paused and said "I can come in soon, but you don't want me to come in right this second because I just had a 2 hour bike ride and I stink." Nonetheless, as soon as the padres arrived and I had a shower, we were off for the new blood pressure cuff.

Which, btw has been registering at under 120/80 ever since we left the doctor's office... 138/87 in the doctor's office. I'm thinking subconscious white coat syndrome (and evidently a fear of firefighters who take my blood pressure... or maybe it was just that they were attractive firefighters... hmm).

Come to think of it, it would have been very interesting to see what the blood pressure monitor would have registered on those hill repeats...

Return to Lucky's and You Want me to Wear What?

Return to Lucky's Lake.
This morning I got up early, picked up my friend Ryan, and headed down to Lucky's Lake. We both had a 2500m (a little over 1.5 miles) swim to take in. Normally, Lucky's Lake is a nice lake. Meaning that I don't worry about the cracken coming up from the depths of the dark waters in which I cannot see farther than my elbow while swimming. The lake was still ok, but there were games afoot in it today.

First problem? I couldn't swim straight today, although oddly it got better the farther I went. The 1st 500 m was a big zig zag during which I bumped into said friend Ryan, a turtle, something that I have no clue what it was, and another swimmer. Not typical for my lake swims, although I do tend to drift a little. The way back was better directionally, but this time I had something that ran down the entire length of my legs, something else that brushed my arm, and then later something that felt as though it grabbed my foot. When the foot grabbing thing happened, I kicked like no body's business and was a little speed demon until I was sure I had gotten away.

Now Lucky's website jokes about there being a sea creature in the lake, one that might like to touch you but is not harmful and is "just curious." Whatever it was, I wasn't thrilled. But then the next 1500m were incident free, so all was good.

I had a good laugh when Ryan told me I was too fast today when I finished my 2500m as he and Brandi were finishing their 2000m. I'm fast when no one is around me swimming. Put me in an open water race and while still decent, I slow down. I figured it out while talking to Ryan. I don't like getting kicked, hit, or generally mauled in the race. I like my swim space and after 2 races where I was sandwiched between swimmers, 1 race where I got kicked in the forehead and 1 where I was kicked squarely in the eye, all those people give me pause. I need to find a way to get myself not to care if I am kicked or mauled, and just turn on the speed.

Then it was back home and work, work, work. Until...

You Want Me to Wear What?
I had to go for my stress test (and first stop by daycare with shoes so the girls could partake in water day at school). I arrived dressed in running shorts and the only top I have that is "button down" other than my dress shirts (because I sweat alot when I run and I was not wearing something I need to dryclean for a stress test)... my Team in Training singlet, which while fitting less snugly than it did in May still is made of fabric containing a decent amount of spandex. I was ready to run.

The stress test was relatively easy until they put me on a super high hill at a speed that was probably faster than I run on a regular basis, just so I'd hit my 187 max HR. I almost asked if they would just make it 186 since my birthday is toward the end of the month. My legs still hurt from Monday's sprint session and here I am trying to max out my heart rate in the doctor's office while being told I have to hold on to the bar and someone takes my blood pressure every so often and asks me if I'm having chest pains. I think my blood pressure topped out at 178/90. It started at 142/90. 2 minutes after I finished the test, it was still at 170/90. But then 3 minutes later it was back down to 142/90.

On to the echocardiogram, which for whatever reason I didn't realize was an ultrasound of my heart. Pretty cool stuff, except the technician couldnt' share the pictures with me because of how I was laying and how she needed to see my heart. Got to hear different things, which she taped. Your heart does more than just lub dub, it turns out. Of course, something happened that made me think of my friend Angela. There was a calendar in the room and it had fun facts about fighter planes, which included the fact that during WWII, the RAF dropped more than 75,000 bags of tea over Dutch towns that had the message "Holland will arise. Keep up courage." I couldn't help but imagine the sight of it all and then the Dutch townsfolk finding their propaganda along with a bag of tea. Angela loved those sorts of things and it pained me not to get to email her with that little tid bit. But hopefully my thought waves reached her anyway.

After that it was the blood pressure cuff. Yup. I have to wear it for 24 hours. For some reason, I imagined this high tech device that was all integrated into a cuff that I wear on my arm. I guess it's more high tech than having a nurse follow me around and take my blood pressure at 30 minute intervals, but it is not what I had envisioned. It's a bright blue blood pressure cuff that is about 5 inches wide that is attached by a rather long (a little more than 2 feet long) grey tube to a 4 inch long box where the memory card and the blood pressure taking device is stored. All of which sits in a carry bag that you have to wear on your arm or around your neck the entire time.

So logically, I asked
"Can I wear that large device for a 2 hour bike ride tomorrow?"
Nurse: "Yes."
Me: "But how? I have to keep that box attached, right?"
Nurse: "Yes, you can wear it around your waist or hang it around your neck."
Me: "I ride in a tucked position on my bike, like this (insert image of me imitating being in arrow while seated in a chair). It'll be about a 2 hour ride."
Nurse: "Yeah, you have to wear it. It'll give us a better picture of what your blood pressure does."
Me: "Any suggestions of how to do that on the bike?"
Nurse:"You'll just have to figure it out!"
I guess they're not used to too many triathletes with possible heart issues. Especially since I think I was the youngest patient in the office that I could see. All of the other younger people were there as a driver for a parent or grandparent. One person even asked me if I was a patient or someone's ride.

I'm not convinced it's going to work while on my bike ride tomorrow. It appears to have had an error (if not 2) taking my blood pressure just on my drive home from the doctor's office. But it works just fine sitting flat on my desk here. The sound of it when it starts up is kind of loud and makes me jump, but my blood pressure has been around 136/84 or 130/80 the times I've remembered to look at it. Who knows what the deal is... I just hope it's not like taking your car into the shop to get them to listen to that funny sound the car is making and then the car doesn't make the sound in the shop. I guess I'll just have to wait to find out next Wednesday.

I meantime, I'll be wearing my neon blue contraption and turning heads.

Tomorrow

One of those days...

I woke up this morning mentally ready to jump on my bike and do a nice 25 mile ride. But somewhere, my body wasn't so sure about that. The only thing I can think of is that last night's track workout was a hard one for me, I forgot to mix and drink my recoverite after my workout (despite it being in the car with me), and I might not have eaten enough for dinner when I got home. All of which could give me muscle fatigue. My quads are a little sore today ... probably from either the walking lunges or the squats we did last night.

Last night was hard. I am not a fast runner. Sprints are not my friend. My back doesn't like them, and last night was no different. But I did alright. I was slow at first, and then at the end, but for different reasons. First we warmed up with a half a mile jog. Then core and strength work... think Denise Austin and T-stands (all I could hear in my head was Denise Austin "do what you can do." That woman makes me crazy. I once did one of her videos with T-stands when completely out of shape and started cursing at the television when I had heard "do what you can do" one too many times. Not my brightest moment.)

Then we did 400m runs, 1 at 50% (3:16), 1 at recovery, 1 at 65-70% (2:46), 1 at recovery, 1 at 85% (1:36). Of course, I think I may have been more like 90% or so for that last lap because my HR hit 191. Max out is supposed to be 185 for me. Uh, yeah. I had a little bit of a tightness in my chest after that one, but I'm not sure if it was asthma, tiredness, or (gulp) my heart. But I walked it off, and the tightness went away. Unfortunately, my back decided it didn't like running at 85% and I ended up having to lay down on the track and stretch my back out so it would stop ceasing up on me. I was also trying not to let Coach know about it.

Then it was 800m runs. 1st at 70%, a 400m recovery, and then another 800m that was supposed to be all out. I wanted it to be all out, I truly did. My back did not. So I fought with my back, letting myself go slower the first lap and then turning it on to about 80% (which was all I could muster due to my evil nerve pain running out the small of my back and down through my quad to my knee... not nice) for the 2nd lap. Ended up with 5:24, I think for the 800. I definitely could have gone faster. As I said to Coach last night, I could be an olympian if it weren't for my back pain, my asthma, my cholesterol and blood pressure issues, my weight, and all of my other issues. The spirit is willing but my body is not. Luckily my mind can usually talk my body into doing things!

But this morning, my back was stiff and my legs were hurting. But it wasn't just muscle fatigue. In truth, I'm not sure what it was. I just felt wierd. Kind of spacey is the only way I could describe it... just as though something wasn't right. And that evil tightness in the left side of my chest was back. It eventually went away after a bit though. So, instead of jumping on my bike alone and hitting a closed road for 25 miles, Mr. Darcy set up my bike on the trainer.

Everyone was running behind schedule - although Ladybug was the perfect angel this morning. She told me, "I'm not going to cry for Miss Wendy today. I'm going to give her a big smile so she can be happy!" And she stuck too it. Mr. Darcy emailed and said she was awesome this morning even after they left. Ladybug even got into the car for school on her own and sat there happily eating trail mix. Let's hope it sticks! Angelfish was a little grumpy, telling everyone but her Daddy not to talk to her and being a bit clingy at school, per Mr. Darcy. Hopefully she'll turn it around for this afternoon/evening.

Finally, I got on the trainer. I'm always so much slower on the trainer than I am on the road... like almost 3 mph slower. I have no idea why, but it is the way things are. So, after an hour I'm sweating, feeling tingly on my back and getting a little nauseas. 13.05 miles in an hour. Pretty sad. But, I got off and decided I would finish the 25 miles off at lunch. So that's how I spent my lunch hour - well, 47 minutes and 48 seconds of it anyway. I was feeling much better by lunch time, and while still slower than I am on the road, this time I got the remaining 12 miles done in 47 minutes and 48 seconds. The total time was still slow for 25 miles, but as I saw posted on another blog awhile back, sometimes we can't have the best workout but the trick is to be present. That was me today... present and getting it done, no matter how slow it might be.

Tomorrow is a swim at Lucky's Lake. I'm looking forward to it because the idea of swimming 2500 m in the pool (a 25m pool at that) was not something I was wanting to do. (Not to mention having my stress test tomorrow too.) Mr. Darcy said he didn't mind my swimming at the lake tomorrow and then doing my cycling workout with the team Thursday morning. Two mornings of getting the girls ready by himself in a row! By the end of all this Half Ironman training, he will more than deserve a medal of his own. That's part of the reason I'm so motivated to finish it too... all the time he's put in to let this happen for me. I don't want to let him down.

I'm seriously considering doing a half marathon in March. I may not run the entire thing because of my back, but I'm seriously thinking about it. It's in the Florida panhandle and sponsored by Vera Bradley and you get a Vera Bradley tote for doing the race. It sounds like good fun (and good swag) to me!

But first things first. The Half Ironman will be mine!

Full Immersion

Yep. It's true, I've been fully immersed in reality again. I wish there were somehow that there could be a way to live each day like it was vacation. Perhaps that's what it's like to be independently wealthy with no need to have responsibilities like getting little people up and ready for school, working, laundry that is calling my name, and random other items of import. I wish I could say that I'd find out but unlike the book I read over vacation Julie and Julia, I seriously doubt that my blog will be picked up to become first a best selling novel and then a major motion picture. Somehow Americans are much more interested in someone working their way through cooking Julia Child's recipes in a year than they are in a working Mom who trains and competes in triathlons. I'm not quite sure why, both have their own brands of insanity, but so it is.

There is no training report for today because well, training is taking the form of a track and core workout this evening. Better than a treadmill, but I'm not looking forward to sprints and trying to run a mile super fast. Gasp... I just realized I'd rather do hill repeats at 6 am or run several miles straight at my own pace than sprint track workouts. Not sure what that means, other than I may have fully lost my marbles and like long distance running. Egads! Maybe that is why I wanted to run while on my cruise. Whatever has become of me? I like to run. EEK! Hide your children and loved ones... I think the world may be coming to an end. This folks is a serious evolution of greatest proportions that causes us all to question (my) sanity!!

Not to mention that there's even a certain thrill today in reviewing my legislation for my states and finding hidden in some budget reconciliation bills potential business law and tax changes. Even that is interesting and fun today.

Perhaps there is some sort of mind alteration that occurs on vacation. One that makes you both more and less tolerant of things in your "normal" life. I think I had worked up a barrier to whining, but since back from vacation I cannot stand to hear Angelfish whine. (It's a serious annoyance of mine, whining that is. I do not do it and cannot abide whining. Complaining is fine, it's a stress reliever. Whining is just awful.) Yet, I can stay much calmer when Ladybug is screaming up a storm and attempting to order me about. It's not fun and it's even worse when Mr. Darcy gets worked up about it, but I can withstand it's annoying properties and deal with the Ladybug in a much easier way.

I don't even think I mind the laundry that's calling my name. Perhaps I am ill. Or perhaps these are the effects of a truly relaxing vacation. I have to admit, I can't remember the last time I had such a relaxing vacation. Past vacations in recent memory, while wonderful family time, have consisted of a lot of running about and protecting things from small children and small children from things.

I hope to try to extend the feeling of relaxation as long as I can but with the return to reality, I fear that it may be short lived. But I can do my darnedest. Heck, I might even convince myself to like a track workout.

I'm BAACK...

We had a lovely time. It was almost too short, although by the end of it we were missing the munchkins. For all our missing the girls, Ladybug paid us back in spades with the number of tantrums that she had on Saturday and Sunday. I think she used up all of her nice behavior for her grandparents, which I have to say that even if I had to endure her this weekend I would much rather that be the case than her poor grandparents having to deal with it.

But the cruise, the cruise was wonderful. There were times where we had no idea what to do with ourselves. Literally. Lots of sleeping and reading and drinks with umbrellas. I even squeezed in some training too... although I probably should have done more... but at the same time, I needed the rest.

Monday before taking the girls to daycare, I got in an hour on the stationary bike followed by a 3 mile run. Then the girls to daycare with some wailing on their part, which actually made it easier for me to leave. I definitely enjoyed the respite from Mommy duties, even though I missed the girls at the same time. It was nice not to have to clean, dress, cook for etc. anyone for several days.

Tuesday I had intended to take off since it was our 1st full day on the cruise, but I kept thinking about running. Wierd, eh? I thought so too. We got up, had some breakfast and got to the island in time for our couples massage. Awesome way to officially start our vacation. My masseuse also suggested that I get a hot stone massage later in the week because my muscles were overworked (his words). I told him I was training for a half-ironman and he said "you need the hot stones." So I said ok. Then we, both completely relaxed, wandered around the island walking until we found the part were not many people were sitting (there were maybe 4 other people around) and we sat near the water under an umbrella, reading. Wandered back to the populated side for lunch and then back to the ship for a nap. On the way back to the ship, I kept thinking a run would be good. Napped and then thought, a run would be good. Went and played trivia (came in 2nd - darn no cruise line key chain...) and thought a run would be good. Asked Mr. Darcy if he wanted to run with me on all 3 occassions, and he finally said "I do not want to run. Go and get it out of your system." And so I did. 12:11 pace, constant for all 4 miles. I felt great afterwards, although rather sweaty.

Wednesday we were in Nassau and had an excursion for sailing and then 1 hour's worth of snorkeling. It was the 1st time I've ever snorkled and it was AWESOME! We snorkled over a reef and saw tons of fish, brain coral, other corals and even a stingray swim by. So, I got in about just under a mile probably as a swim... although who knows. Mr. Darcy said I was a speed demon, but I thought I was just moving about normally... I did have to wait for him a few times, but that was OK by me! It was fun to snorkle together. Afterwards though, poor Mr. Darcy had a terrible headache so we headed back to the ship for lunch and a nap. I read for most of the 3 hours, but Mr. Darcy slept like a log. By the time we were up and off the ship, everything had pretty much shut down so we only got to wander through the straw market and pick up cute little straw purses for the little ladies. Then back to the ship for a little more trivia, reading and some random show before dinner.

Thursday was at sea and a bit boring in some ways. I had gotten up early and cycled for 1 1/2 hours going 51 km (or miles, I couldn't be sure from the reading on the machine, but my guess is km because even though it was a stationary bike I'm doubtful I could go 51 miles in 1 1/2 hours), then had some breakfast, showered and went back to sleep. Mr. Darcy was sleeping the entire time. Then I wandered the ship with Mr. Darcy while he primarily read, we watched a belly flop contest, and I had my hot stone massage. PURE HEAVEN. My muscles felt awesome afterwards. It wasn't the total mind and body relaxation of the 1st day's massage, but it was the type of massage where I was present mentally but my muscles felt relaxed and rejuvenated at the end. Highly recommended! We went to a sad little art auction on board, played some trivia, read. Nothing too eventful.... other than packing our stuff up for departure the next morning, which was when I realized how much I wanted to see Angelfish and Ladybug. I missed them!

Friday we headed home at 8:30 ish in the morning, and by the time we got home I was strangely tired and slept about 3 hours. I guess I didn't sleep as well as I thought I did while on board, but that pretty much wiped out the chance of getting my Friday workout in. We got the girls from daycare around 3:30 pm when I couldn't take being home and not having them with us. It was great to see them again... Ladybug headed straight to me and was thrilled to see me. Angelfish wanted nothing to do with me and only to be with Mr. Darcy... which has continued somewhat this weekend. Not sure if she's punishing me for not being there all week or if she just always is super partial to Mr. Darcy and this is the first I'm realizing it, but what can you do?

Saturday we lazed around and I skipped training because Ladybug was pretty much sleeping ON me when I woke up and then up and running about with me while everyone else in the house slept. Today (Sunday) we ran errands with the girls after a morning fraught with tantrums from Ladybug (including half of the ride to Costco... at one point she told us over and over again that she wasn't going to talk to us anymore and to which I finally said, "for someone who isn't talking to us, you sure are talking alot" and she stopped). Watched "The Tales of Desperaux" which they sort of liked and sort of didn't, and I felt guilty for not doing my big brick that was scheduled for today but that I couldn't quite pull myself out of bed to do.

But I'm back to work tomorrow, which also means I'm fully dedicated to my training as it's only about 8 weeks until race day. Luckily I return to it with an evening track workout to kick my butt back into gear and keep me accountable for getting back into it since people will be looking for me. I've missed the movement of my body in a long distance mode the past few days and found myself waking up this morning wiggling my toes - which either means I'm stressed again already or just that I have extra energy I need to burn. I'm thinking it's the latter at the moment, but I'll be able to tell you more tomorrow after reading all my emails from last week and attempting to catch up. The punishment for a nice week of vacation and relaxation, but I'll take my licks since it was a much needed break and a lot of fun to be with Mr. Darcy - just the two of us.

But now, back to reality...