Aston Martin with Extra Pepperoni

With unemployment at a 26-year high, everyone is doing whatever they can to make ends meet -- even using their Aston Martin to deliver pizza!

My Only Christmas Wish...

Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.

With this thought, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, all the Happiest Holidays and all the luck the New Year could possibly bring to you.

Training for a Triathlon!

My big announcement: I decided to train to compete in SheRox triathlon!

To some of you, you think that it is no big deal, but for me, it is enormous. I am a couch potato. I want to name my future dog, TiVO. If I had to choose between TiVO and Ryan, I would think for a second (of course I would choose Ryan). So, I am sure you are getting my drift.....I choose to watch boat loads of TV and forget about the outside world.


I am competing in the triathlon for a few reasons:
1. I need to be in better shape for myself and my health.
2. I want to loose weight. I am not over weight, I just would like to loose 8 to 10 lbs. My metabolism is not up to par anymore and I just can't eat what ever I want and keep off the weight. Getting old sucks!
3. I want to be motivated about something. I want to look forward to something. I want to prove to myself, that I can do anything that I put my mind to.

Can I finish the triathlon? Not right now, but I want to work hard and get my endurance and confidence up....I know in May, I will cross that finish line! If I can walk on fire and glass.....I can complete a triathlon.

SheRox triathlon will be in May at Tempe Town Lake.

• Half mile swim in Tempe Town Lake (yeah, I am pretty much going to die of some bacterial infection, but I'll die a triathlete!)
• 13 mile bike ride through Tempe
• 3.1 mile run

My goals:

• Finish the triathlon
• Bonus goal: Finish in one and half hours
• Get in shape / burn fat

Wish me luck!

Workout One: Ran a mile and a half in 15 minutes.....BAD! Goal: In 6 weeks run 2 miles in 15 minutes. Ultimate goal is to run 3.2 (5k) in under 20 minutes.

Rowing: 600 meters with no break. Goal: 1000 meters with no break.

I have a really long way to go....but if I am motivated and dedicated in completing this race, I WILL do it!

Turkey, Vegas and a PSA Teaser

We got back from Vegas Sunday night. I am usually relived to be back. I can only spent a few days in Sin City at a time. However, I recover quite nicely and I want to go back ASAP.

The Black Jack tournament was a bust for me. I didn't make it out of round one. I was really sad. Ryan however, did quite well. He made it to the second round and barely missed out of going to the third round by $250.00. That is nothing. That is one hand of Black Jack. It is really hard to judge people's chips and plus, you have to guess what they are going to bet. Better luck next time!

We both have entries (a $500 value) to a Black Jack Tournament in March and Ryan has one entry in a Craps Tournament in February.

Ryan and I as always had a great time in Vegas. We gambled a lot. Ate fabulous sushi from Sushi Roku. We always 'bet' our dinners. We put $50 on red or black on a roulette table. If we win, we go to a very nice dinner with our $100. If we loose, we go to fast food. We won! We also got to see a few friends while we were there. Overall, we had a very nice time. It was so nice spending time with my husband! We just really enjoy each other. He turns into Vegas Ryan. I love seeing that side of him.


Thanksgiving was nice as well. It was really good to see the family. There was actually no drama! Crazy! A little out of the norm for us. Few comments were made, but I tried my best to let them roll off and move on. I wanted to enjoy the day. My two cousins had babies. Jay Browning is 11 weeks and Halle Jaye is 8 weeks old. SO cute. I held Halle for awhile....just the sweetest baby. Made me want to have one. I am trying to work Ryan over on getting a dog and he isn't budging....I don't think babies is on the schedule for the next few years. =(


My big announcement: As you just read, I am not prego. So get that out of your mind, but I have a big announcement to make. Hint: It has to do with Running, Biking and Swimming. I will blog about it in a few days, so please stay tuned!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish all of you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving!

What I am thankful for: I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for Ryan. I am thankful for a job and a wonderful house. I am thankful for life. I am thankful for the soldiers and their families that unselfishly gave up their holiday for us. To protect us and all of the innocent people that just want freedom.


Where are you going? Ryan and I are heading to Southeastern Arizona to my Grandmother's. We are having Thanksgiving lunch at my Uncle and Aunt's home. Then on Friday afternoon, we are going to LAS VEGAS! YAY! We have a Black Jack tournament. I am hoping to do good. I did VERY well my first tournament. I got to round three out of five. I barely missed round four. Wish us luck.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday....LOVE to eat and be with family.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Is it 18 lives or just 9?

She-He-They was/were born in Perth, Australia and still doing good.

May I Point Out....

That a published author read my blog and made comment! The author, John of "The Go Giver" found my blog and made a comment under the new books. I think that is pretty cool that blogs are linking people from all around the world. I had someone from Portugal make a comment and had a few people email me from around the U.S. I like that I am able to speak my mind or share my thoughts and a few people do read them. On the other hand, people from all around the world read your blog.....try to keep your personal stuff, personal. You never know who can stalk you! =)

As that said.....I am very sorry for my grammar and spelling. It is ridiculously bad. Never thought published authors would read your blog!!

Books

I have read a few more books that I thought I would like to share.

Thousand Splendid Suns
Currently I am reading "Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. The same author of "The Kite Runner". I just really love this book. It follows the lives of two woman living in Afghanistan. I am so shocked this stuff that the woman go through is real. I knew the laws for woman are very tight and stricked, but it is just heart braking to hear what their lives in tale. It is also interesting about how the Taliban came to play and how the power shifted to them. Afghanistan was in war with several Countries and rebels. Jihad. The Taliban was a welcome to the people at first. They came with the promise of "change". (We have all heard that word lately). The citizens welcomed them. A lot like how the Nazis came to power and how the citizens welcomed them at first and the as well came with the promise of "change". (So you see why I am scared to death of Obama, the "change" word and how he came to power in the United States. It parallels with the history.) Anyway, I am almost finished and I am just in love. The author tells a story that is detailed and I can picture these woman is such detail. He also uses Afghan words.


The Go Giver
I also just finished "The Go Giver" by Bob Burg and John David Mann. They did a fantastic job in making a business book into and enjoyable story that you can relate to and even more important....learn from. I can't stand business books, but really enjoyed reading this book. It teaches the five secrets to success. You can use these steps in your work as well as personal life. The “secret” is in the following five strategies. I sincerely hope you take the opportunity to spend an hour of your time and read this great book. Until you do:

1. Value: Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment
2. Compensation: Your compensation is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them
3. Influence: Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other peoples’ interests first
4. Authenticity: The most valuable thing you have to offer is yourself
5. Receptivity: The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving


The Virgin Suicides
I did an Audio Book of "The Virgin Suicides" by Jeffrey Eugenides. It is about the lives of an eclectic group of men who live in an affluent American suburb in the '70s are forever changed by their obsession with five doomed sisters. I do recommend it. I did get connected with the characters and I am dieing to see the movie!!

My next book will be "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. People who have read both....say that Kite Runner is better. If I am absolutely LOVING "Thousand Splendid Suns", I am sure "The Kite Runner" will be fantastic!

Amanda and Bretts Wedding in Hawaii!

Aloha!! Ryan and I went to his sister's wedding in Hawaii. The island of Oahu. It was so GORGEOUS!!!! Just absolutely paradise. It made me want to move there. I can see why people go on vacation and never return. Just breath taking beautiful.

Speaking of beauty......look at what a gorgeous couple Amanda and Brett make!

Amanda and Brett planed a great wedding with tons of stuff to do. Their fun, gorgeous wedding was held at Ke Iki Beach Bongalows on November 1st. The wedding was right on the beach in North Shore.

Wednesday: BBQ at their resort/bungalows that we were staying at and were the wedding was held. (Ryan and I unfortunately had to miss it. No vacation days left)

Thursday: The day Ryan and I arrived, we went on a charted boat around the island. So much fun!!! The weather was kind of crappy, but what a fantastic way to start the trip. Plus we got to see family and meet family for the first time. We also got to meet some of Amanda and Brett's friends and meet Brett's family. His family was very nice and hosted a great event.

Friday: Luncheon rehearsal at Turtle Bay Resort. Very nice!!!! The food was great!

Saturday: The big day! Ryan and I woke up and had a great breakfast and decided to hit the beach.....please read all about that experience below. I got my hair done along with Amanda, Mother-in-law, June and Amanda's bridesmaid.
The ceremony was right on the beach at almost sunset. It was just romantic and very, very sweet.

(I had a little snag....my dress broke right before the ceremony...it sucked big time. I just wore the dress that I wore at the luncheon, but I was very upset at that very mad at myself.)

Everyone one in the wedding look very posh and just perfect for the big day!!

The reception was super fun and we all had a BLAST! It was so nice. They had lanterns and outside seating areas. They also had hula dancers, fire dancers and an incredible band. Just a good time with friends, family and lots of bottles of wine!! Ryan's dad, Dave, danced with all the pretty ladies and even got up and sang a song with the band......just a side of him I don't think people have seen in a LOOOONNNGGG time! It was too cute.

Brett's mom made these fantastic parasols and hand painted for gifts. AMAZING! June, painted this great painting of sea turtles for Amanda and she and Brett bottled their favorite wine and used the painting as wine labels. June does a really great job at painting!! Between the two moms....Amanda and Brett are going to have some pretty creative kids!

Congratulations Amanda and Brett!!!

Overall, Hawaii was a blast. I definitely want to go back and do more things. We only got to really spend one day at the beach....wow! First off, we were on North Shore....where the surfers go to surf! Huge ass waves, the locals call them neck breaker waves and I can see why. We first started getting our feet wet...then it got to our knees....some how we were thrown in the sea. Those waves were so big and the current was super strong. I can see why people drown and are pulled into sea in knee high water. CRAZY! One really big wave picked me up....beached me like a whale. It picked up Ryan and through him all over the place. Knock off his glasses. His favorite sunglasses. The poor guy spent the next hour looking for them. Waves picking him up so high and knocking him over. All you see is surf and feet. I helped him look for a bit, but this wave really knocked me over and beached my ass. It really hurt my neck and all I could think about was that I am going to die for a pair a sunglasses. I was out of the ocean. Believe it or not...after over an hour....some snorkeler found them down the beach. Ryan is one luck guy! He did have a lot of fun though. He was having a blast in the ocean. However, the waves hurt his back so bad. He spranged and through out his back. So the rest of the trip (including the wedding) he was in agony over his back. Got him out of dancing at the wedding.

We also visited Dole Pineapple Farm and a small Sea World type of place called Sea Life Park. We got to feed sea lions and see a Whalphin. It is a hybrid of a dolphin and a whale (False Killer Whale). It looked like a dark, large dolphin. It just kept swiming around in his tank, upside down. It is the only one in the world in captivity. She is 22 years old and had one offspring. Really cool! (These photos I found off the internet. We missed the show.)

Ryan couldn't walk because of his back....so I pushed him around in a wheel chair. Good times! Gave me an insight of what it will be when we are 90.

Next time....I really want to go snorkeling. I liked being in the ocean. Plus the water was such a great temperature. I want to see all the fisheys!!!