I've been at a loss for words actually, shocker I know, but between full time work (real pay check), part time work (fun pay check), planning a 12 hour bike ride (that most likely will have the date changed), studying for a professional designation (for real paycheck work), AND keeping up with a house, a boy, and three dogs, blogging has been pushed down, down, down on the allison-do list.

I'm sorry :(

I promise I will come back with soooon --- until then I leave you with this challenge;

I NEED MUSIC FOR MY SPIN CLASS - READY, SET, GIVE ME YOUR FAV WORKOUT SONGS!!

5 states, 5 days

I started in Texas on Friday - delayed three hours, Landed in Louisiana, drove to Mississippi arrived at almost midnight Friday --- back to NOLA on Saturday to pick up Bill, back to MS to the anniversary party for my aunt and uncles 50th wedding anniversary and then back to Louisiana on Sunday where I sat in an airport for close to 10 hours (does not include the two hours we spent in the french quarter) to catch a flight that would take me to TX and land me in my door at 1:00am only to leave at 7:30am to head out to Philadelphia on Monday and then drive to Delaware on Monday afternoon to be in a three day training session...I leave DE to drive to PA to fly to TX ..... to be HOME on Thursday night.

*BIG FAT YAWN*

It's been crazy crazy around here - which would be the reason I haven't posted in 14 days.  Workouts have been limited at best...and I have a sprint tri on Sunday which is going to KILL me... seriously I may die... which would suck b/c then I would be able to make my BIG ANNOUNCEMENT HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK....keep hagin' in there...

Up on the docket this weekend... Wedding Friday night, baseball playoffs Saturday, Tri Sunday.... I'm tired thinking about it... Monday I hope to get a massage... I need one to RELAX!

Anyway - just thought I'd check in from DE and let you know that I was in fact alive and racking up the airline miles (hello Hawaii........maybe one free ticket at least)

We will return to your regularly scheduled programming soon......

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'..........

Things have been rollin' along around here at Tri and Finish.... We started our week(s) of travel.... Want to see what it looks like??

I was gone Tuesday/Wednesday in OK for work, came home last night (Wed) we leave tomorrow (Fri) for Houston for a baseball tournament...return home Sunday.

Following Wed (July 6) Bill leaves for a work trip to TN - the Jack Daniel's Distillery...rough work trip I know... and I leave Friday (July 8) for MS for my Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party.  Bill will meet me there on Saturday (July 9) and we return home Sunday (July 10).

I leave Monday (July 11) for Wilmington, DE for work and will not be home until Thursday (July 14) - then I have a tri on July 17 ...  I'm tired just typing that.....

Have you missed me?? I've been kind of MIA on here (not just posting, but commenting too - but trust me I've been reading...can we say lurker??) and on Twitter.... but you know what, LIFE is CYCLICAL and you have to ROLL with the punches...

I have a HUGE idea in my head right now - that's really really really really really really really really hard to keep secret - but I can't let it out JUST yet... in case you know it doesn't come to fruition... but think of an epic idea and times it by 100.......not that I can take credit for the WHOLE idea b/c I can't .. .but darn skippy it's a good one....

Trying to get back on track to regularly blogging (and blogging about good stuff)..... training is semi-halted right now just b/c of the schedule.  Oh - yes - I didn't tell you....

I'm in the process right now of getting on board with Lifetime Fitness as a cycle instructor AND the Cycle Club coordinator.  Which would mean 1 indoor class per week (maybe 2) and then 1 outdoor ride per week.  I'm super excited about it and I hope it all works out - I think I will love putting my passion into a paid (albeit small) position....what a way to earn some extra cash though :)

So as you can see - things are movin' and groovin' over here... house is still on the market... grrrrrrrr...

and I'm counting down the days until we go here:

approx. 75ish days......


ALOHA!!

Since I’ve been in a bloggy funk – I thought it was appropriate to update you on a few things that have been happening around my crazy filled life…

Work:
As I stated yesterday, work has been crazy.  I also started the second of three classes that will earn me my professional designation of ARM, Associate in Risk Management.  I know I’m a nerd…. Between that and managing an entire 4 state territory all by my lonesome I’ve been jammed packed with requests for quotes for international insurance and servicing our already existing account base.  Enough with the nerdy insurance talk…

House:
Days on Market: 64
# of showings: 13...which averages to approximately 1.44 showings per week.
# of price decreases: 2

My loving sister, Anna, repainted my kitchen for me over the last two days.  Apparently people don’t like the color grasscloth as much as I do.  My kitchen was soooo cute – but now it’s Brown Teepee; still cute (same color as my living room) but not FUN green!  Hoping this entices more buyers and makes the house more “turnkey” – coupled with the price decrease, the end of school and the summer approaching I’m hoping my house sells F.A.S.T.

Car:
I bought a new ride.  It’s pretty sweet if I do say so myself.  A 2009 Honda pilot touring edition; Gray on the inside, Gray on the outside. (to the tune of “cream on the inside; clean on the outside – ice cream, ice cream, ice cream paint job” – anyone with me on that?) Anyway…

It’s a dark gray on the outside and light gray leather interior, navigation, Bluetooth, six CD changer, power seats, windows and doors…third row seating and enough room for the doggies!!!!  I got a great deal on it at Sewell Cadillac in Grapevine – so if you are looking for a car and you are in the area – you should go there…they are awesome!

I’ll post pics soon!

Triathlon
My training has been lax for better terms……. But I’m excited to get back on the band wagon and start training for my Olympic distance race in June.  I've also planned out my race schedule through the end of the year so now I have something to look forward to - and not just training to train with no goal in mind.

Here is what I'm thinking:
June - Olympic Distance Race - Play Tri Festival
July - Olympic Distance Race - Disco Tri
August - Hula Girl Sprint Tri - put on by the FABULOUS Shannon
September - Prairieman 70.3
October - Cheering on Cayla, Jason (and whoever else decideds to race) at the Longhorn 70.3 + Livestrong Challenge for year 3
November - DRC Half
December - Full Marathon!! Either Vegas or White Rock.....depends on funds

I ran 4 miles on Monday, took Tuesday off b/c of work events and rode on my trainer for an hour tonight.  Tomorrow is OWS with Jason and possible others, then run on Friday, bike Sat/Sun (maybe a swim Sunday depending). We are headed to San Antonio on Saturday for Cayla's sisters wedding...so that should be fun!

Other than that .... next weekend, May 21 I'm getting my SPIN CERTIFICATION!  I love spinning...whether on my trainer or at the gym and I love people so combine the two and I thought - HEY what a way to earn a few extra bucks and do what I love!  We shall see how it goes - but I'll keep you all updated.

Now I'm off to make homemade whole wheat pizza and salad for dinner!

Weekend Wrap Up

First off - let me say I had an AWESOME training week last week.  It wasn't necessarily the quality of the workouts or any extra effort I put into it - it was that I hit all 7 days of workout - 100%!


It is a great feeling to know that you accomplished your goals and it is even better when you can FEEL yourself getting stronger.  I think by adding weights and core work 2-3 times a week over the last three weeks has made a HUGE difference.  I have lost 4 pounds over the last few weeks and can actually start seeing the difference in the way my clothes fit.  I put on a pair of pants today that used to be a little tight, not like "she needs one size bigger" tight - but snug - and the they are loose on me today.  I am having a good Monday.


Now on to the weekend.....

I was scheduled to do a 4 mile interval run on Friday.  Run at 80% for 8 minutes, walk 2 repeat until I hit 4 miles.


Bill hadn't run outside since we ran 2 miles together awhile ago (and I PR'd with like an 8min something mile - I was sprinting basically the entire time.) so he was a little nervous to do 4 with me, but I knew he could do it.  He is in so much better shape than he gives himself credit for. 


I got out of work early on Friday and was very excited to spend some time outside since it was 70 degrees and GORGEOUS!  We hit up the gym for weights first then headed outside to the greenbelt for a 4 miler.  FYI - I love my GARMIN!


We had an awesome run together....it is one of the best feelings - us being active together and taking responsibility to be healthy together.  With the history of heart disease in both our families it gives me a little extra warm and fuzzy each time we workout and eat healthy.


Friday night we decided to try a new restaurant.  We are big on trying new places..... we found an authentic German restaurant in Plano, The Bavarian Grill.

Umm.. it was every bit of goodness that it sounds.  We started with a cheese plate (Camembert, Emmentaler, Gruyere and smoked Gouda), then a mixed salad with carrots, green beans, cucumber dill, tomatoes with green onions and pickled beets.  (not a fan of beets)

For dinner I chose some form of schnitzel that was delicious with a potato pancake and a mixed salad.  Bill had some dumpling something or other with a bunch of mushrooms and it was scrumptious.  Everything was in German so pardon my lack of description….I weighed HEAVILY on the waitress’s suggestions.

We each had a few German beers…again not sure of the names.  I had a hefeweizen I know for the first one – not sure the second and I have no clue what Bill had. (good descriptions huh?)

It wouldn’t have been complete without dessert – a chocolate cake of pure decadence and an apple strudel – yes we had both don’t judge!!!!

Saturday I went and met up with Cayla to ride bikes.  We got some good mileage in and for fun stopped and took this pic.

If you follow me on Twitter (@allie0622) you’ve seen this before!

We hung out for awhile – ate on a patio because the weather was PERFECT AGAIN! And then I headed home.  Bill was out with some friends prepping baseballs for the Texas Rangers spring training.  Don’t ask me – all I know is they rub a specially ordered type of mud on all the balls and have a BBQ. 

Sunday we met up with my friend Laura, Karen and Randy, and Cayla for breakfast.  Laura was in town for the stock show and it was great to see her!  We were college roommates and had one too many o’ fun time together.

Karen, Randy, Bill and I headed to ZestFest 2011  It was festival of hot sauce, salsa, dips and all around indulgence.  After a big breakfast it probably wasn’t the best idea – but we had fun anyway.

Bill took some ridiculous challenge of 7 hot sauces…the last one being called “Black Mamba” he was hurting until this morning if that tells you anything.  Good News….we got a pic of him in his winning gear

He was a trooper and headed to the gym on Sunday night with me…. He lifted weights and ran and I just ran.  After that a serious hurricane of cleaning hit our house and we went to town.  Baseboards, fan blades, showers, tubs, you name it – it all got cleaned.  Boo – ya!  Lovin’ a clean house!

Coming up this week:

A week packed full of AWESOME Superbowl parties!!!! Bill scored tickets to an event almost every night this week through work.  Go ahead ask….”Allison, what party are you most excited about?”

You got that right – Bill got us tickets to the PRIVATE B.E.P concert on Friday night.  So freakin’ excited I almost peed my pants.  Seriously- I almost peed…he told me when I had to go to the bathroom reallly really bad! Haha! 

Lots of training – did a weight and core workout at lunch today – check the side bar for other workouts.

Busy work week – as usual.  But this keeps me motivated…

Yes that's my Matty Run Run sticker on my cube at work....Seriously having a bad day? A pink unicorn can cheer anyone up!

Jason is also coming up to work on Friday to speak with our walking/running group.  VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT!! Nutrition is a HUGE interest for the folks in our walking program and I think Jason's knowledge is going to be very helpful for them!  Not to mention I hope he gets like 10 new participants in MM!

I will see A LOT of these this week:

The Packers are staying across the street from my office....... guaranteed to see at least a few prostitutes this week.  (follow me on twitter and you would have heard that joke a few days ago - yes I'm reusing it.  I'm sure Daniel Tosh reuses jokes too... @allie0622)  I may be making a few extra trips to Starbucks just to see what I can see....you know what I mean?

How was your weekend?????

PS - GO CLICK HERE FOR MY PSIL'S SUPER FUN WEEK OF GIVEAWAYS!

Overwhelmed....

I'm feeling very very very overwhelmed lately.  It takes a lot for me to feel this way - stress isn't something that consumes me 99.99999999999% of the time. 

But lately - work, life, blogging, training etc has become too much and I'm feeling like I'm buried under a mound of never ending to-do lists, bills, schedules, demands, expectations, etc.

I'm a planner.  I like routine.  I love lists, and there is no better feeling to me than crossing off items on my multiple lists.  At any one time you can probably find two to three hand written lists in my purse, one shopping list on my iphone and another work list on my blackberry.  I am also a compulsive flagger in my outlook and I like to know what is expected of me and a reasonable time frame to complete expectations.  Sometimes it’s sickening – but it works for me and I usually leave work feeling like I’m not coming back to a shit storm the next day.

I try to be the same way at home but on a more relaxed level.  I enjoy cleaning one room at a time and making sure you can eat off of it when I’m done.  (But let’s be honest it stays that way for about 2.5 seconds with three dogs) – I like to strategically pick up around the house during the week to keep a tidy home and laundry done….. I like my house to feel lived in – definitely not museum-esqe.  If you break something – it’s ok as long as it’s not my pottery from Cabo J

Anyway – over the last two weeks stress has started to mount in my work.  We are super busy right now, which is a good thing, don’t get me wrong; but there isn’t enough hours in the day.  This week I’ve been at the office until 7 or 8 almost every night – which puts a huge hangup in my training….which makes me stressed out b/c I can’t get it all in, which makes me feel like I’m going to be totally unprepared for NOLA 70.3, which makes me stress more, which makes me tired and makes me want to go to bed at 10pm. 

I try really hard to not let it bother me – that – it is what it is and it will all get done…. But it’s too much lately.  Something has got to give pretty soon.  I know once I get my house fixed up and on the market that will greatly help.  Knowing that soon I won’t be paying a mortgage for an empty house will take a great deal of pressure off me.  Bill said yesterday I could get a house keeper….. Very excited about that.

Today has been good though. I’m leaving here at a reasonable time.  I want to go get a swim in at the gym and hopefully spin a little…no classes tonight but I wouldn’t mind hopping on the spin bike for a little ride.  I’m fine with spending my Friday night at the gym…..

That will make me feel better – and maybe a massage – hopefully I can schedule that tomorrow J

Monday starts a new week – a new time to start over… I think that’s why I like Monday’s; it gives you a fresh new opportunity to start over every 7 days.

Have a great weekend y’all…… I promise I’ll be back to normal come Monday!

Let's be friends ok?

Don't be mad that I have taken over a week hiatus from here...it isn't because I don't love you anymore, or that I don't have anything to say (b/c I have a LOT to say ALL THE TIME....ask Bill...he can't get me to shut up), As we all get sometimes I've just been overwhelmed.

I traveled two days last week for work and then was up to my ears from Thursday - Sunday with wedding festivities for SBJ.  I love that girl - and she is married and enjoying her honeymoon in Playa :)  Congrats my friend - you were beautiful!

I had Monday off from work (thanks MLK for your civil rights activities and giving me a three day weekend) - when I returned to the office yesterday my team had been moved to a new location.  I had packed all my stuff up last week -- it was moved over the weekend.  I had a 10 appt with a client - which I had to get some "office stuff" done before I went so I was at work at 7:30am... early for me.

I was swamped all day until 8 pm last night.

I'm still swamped today - but thought I needed to take a few minutes and climb out of my hole and say hello.

Training last week s.u.c.k.e.d. as you can imagine - between traveling and wedding it was a total fail.  This week I got a good 3 mile run in on Monday with some weights and core....Tuesday was a fail b/c of work - but I'm looking forward to a nice 1 hr 45 min. trainer ride tonight.  I plan to sweat this stress out.

In other life news....

I met with a realtor today.  Bill and I are officially moving into together and my house will hopefully be on the market in the next 4 weeks.  I'm ready for this.  It's a big step but one in which I am confident in.  Our relationship is strong our commitment to one another stronger and it makes no sense for me to continue paying a mortgage on a house that I don't step foot in.

My meeting with Chris the realtor today went fantastically.  Of course there are a few cosmetic changes that need to be made which was no surprise to me - I know I've needed to do that for a while.  But other than that structurally all is good.

I had foundation work done by the seller before I moved in, a new roof was put in also.  I have a new water heater, furnace, A/C, central vac and fence.  On paper it looks fantastic and it's going to be priced to sell as well.

I'm ready to get this off my payroll.  So if you want to live in a central location in Dallas with an even better tax break, looking for a 3 bed/2 bath/2 car garage home - I'm your girl.  You may even get a bloggy discount if you mention it :)

Other than those things - it's been pretty par for the course.

What have you been up to?  I'm still trying to catch up on blogs!

Thank you for laughing at my sinus' and phallic math humor yesterday....seriously it means a lot. :)

I'm feeling almost normal today..... I actually slept last night (and subsequently so did Bill)...waking up rested and finally feeling like I'm on the road to recovery is a wonderful thing.

I started thinking last night about my race schedule in 2011.  I only have two events planned for sure - the Rock and Roll Half In March and then NOLA 70.3 in April.  I signed up for the 12 races in 12 months challenge (interested, you can click here) - so last night I was like, "I better start finding me some races!"

So I have started making a tentative race schedule for 2011 - Actually it only includes the two races named above plus a 15k in January. - I'm 1/4 of the way there......

I wanted to shout out to new followers of the blog - in  just a few days I've had like 6 new followers.  That rocks :) Thanks y'all!!!

I'm hoping to be back on the wagon tomorrow for training.  I've missed a lot lately and it's just not sitting right with me.  This time of year is so hard - busy schedules, cold weather (except yesterday), etc makes it hard to get motivated.  A couch with a blanket, hot chocolate and movies sounds way better.  Alas, I will train and I will rock out in New Orleans on April 17.

I would like to take one more day off (today) before trying to get back in the swing of working out.  Since this yuck-i-ness moved into my chest I would rather be safe than sorry and not push it too much.

Back to work for me.... I'm sooo ready for vacation next week!

Down the rabbit hole....

I'll be out of touch on here at least through tomorrow.... that means no google reader to catch up on your blogs, not fun posts, and I won't tell you how bad my legs were screaming at me on Saturday after my bike ride with Cayla and Jason until Wednesday.... I know you can't wait to hear about THAT!

I'm immersing myself in my ARM-54 book until 3:00pm tomorrow when I have to take my test.

I'm shooting for a 70 - hopefully - if not I have to pay my company back the $500 they paid for me to take this class.  If I pass then I'm only two classes away from my professional designation of ARM....be jealous.

Just to let you in on a secret - I haven't picked up the book in six weeks.  OOPS!

So - have a great night - I'm going back to computing the net present value of money, probabilities and cash flows.... seriously I'd rather poke my eye out with a dull knife.

My pie got second..... I won a clock

Kind of disappointed....but oh well..... I know it was good :)

Tuesday randomness....

It randomly decided to get cold today.  Low 50's (I know for you Canadians that read this - this is nothing compared to what you experience) HOWEVER - it is cold for Texas... not only is it cold, it's windy AND rainy.... like torrential downpour type rain.  It's pretty rad that I have a 3 mile run AND a 30 minute bike scheduled for today.  Guess that will have to be moved indoors.....

Which reminds me... I guess its time to take my coats to the dry cleaners.... I loathe the dry cleaners.  It ticks me off every time I go b/c my clothes are always WAY more expensive than Bill's.... He can get practically his whole closet dry cleaned for the same price I can get one shirt, a skirt and a jacket.  It's irritating... I think I should dig up the expose that 20/20 did a Loooong time ago about why women's clothes cost more at the dry cleaner.  I would be interested to know that.... I do remember it was before I had TiVo therefore - I did not watch it.  Oh my younger days when I did something on a Friday night besides watch 20/20.

Alas - we get older each  year and our priorities change.... speaking of - hop on over to Mrs. Adventure and wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  She is such an amazing blogger, woman, wife and friend...... leave her some love and pay it forward as a present to her.

Work is really quiet today....a little eerie actually.  My brain is already in weekend mode... which equals mush.....

Oh yes - we got a third dog.... did I forget to mention that?  Deuce and Shakes now have a sister.  She is a year and half old shepard/terrier/mut mix.  She is 25 pounds and absolutely precious.  Her name is Sprite... but we don't like it so we are re-naming her Lyla (Short for Deliliah)..... I wish I had pictures but we brought her home late last night and spent a few hours integrating her with her brothers.

Our friends Nick and Kaci foster dogs from a kill shelter in town.  They take them right before they are going to be euthanized.  They have been fostering her for a few weeks now and have yet to find her a home.  Nick approached Bill about fostering her and we decided we would.  However, I'm pretty sure that this is going to turn into a permanent placement. Which I'm totally fine with...she is so precious.  I'll post pictures as soon as I take them....

How is your Tuesday????? 

6 at 6

I ran 6 miles this morning at 6am :)  Sorry for the lack of "real" blogging this week.  Work has been nuts....

Monday started out with a particularly late day at the office; after sleeping through my alarm and missing Master's Swim.  (I attribute this to the PMS.... I'm luck to the fact that I don't get terrible cramps, etc... but man do I get S.L.E.E.P.Y -- sorry male readers).  I worked so late I didn't get my bike ride in.  My boss was in a terrible mood, i.e. bitching at every last thing, huffing, puffing, you know the "mad boss" fiasco I'm sure.  I had every intention of hooking up my trainer and riding during the Ranger game but after the horrible, no good, very bad day I had ZERO energy to get on my bike and ride... so instead I drank a Jack and Diet with Bill and we cuddled up on the couch in our Ranger gear and watched the game.(oh yes we ate steak and grilled veggies too...delish)

Tuesday - was a mild continuation of the bosses' rant which equalled another late night at the office.... AND a Ranger game.... Day #2 with no work out... awesome.

Wednesday - I got up for master's swim...thank god... but missed my bike.... Now I'm just seriously in the hole.

Thursday - today - Bill and I have plans for dinner tonight with friends at our FAVORITE Greek restaurant so I knew that the likelihood of me running after work was small, as in non-existent.  I got up this morning at 5:45am - hopped in my car and was running by 6:15am.  I ran 6 miles before work...and before an 8:30 am presentation -- can I get a BOO-YA?!?  Thank you :)

Tomorrow was supposed to be my off day, but because of my two impromptu off days earlier in the week I will be getting up to go to Master's Swim and then hopefully either a 3 mile run OR a quick ride on my trainer before I head to Austin.

This weekend is the Livestrong Challenge...and what an amazing event; but also a very emotional event for me.  I am able to honor my best friend through two of my passions, running and cycling, with a foundation that was near and dear to her.  I miss her dearly - every day - and hope that she is smiling down on me in heaven.

I hope you all have a great weekend :) I'll try and blog pics from the weekend but if not - have a good one and I"ll be back Monday!!!!!

Hugs and Love!