Tracy: Yay for your weekend of ice cream + fun-filled activities. I'm currently going through withdrawal on the former, so enjoy a bowl for me. It definitely sounds like it was an Indy weekend for you, on all fronts. I already responded to your RR, but congrats on everything about it--especially avoiding the ambulance!
Shaily: Welcome to both the DIS and to WISH!
So they sucked you into EE as an inaugural event? Hey, you know that's what we like about Disney--they're always giving us something new to train for. I look forward to hearing about your training, your team, and your event.
Terri: WTG with the 2 miles. You're right--gotta restart some time, might as well be today. And the best thing is that it felt good, which I think is a good sign that you're already getting a jump start on recharging your batteries. (Groan, I really had to work for that bad pun.)
Aloha Jeff: It sounds like your visit with your Oregon friends went wonderfully for everyone involved, including the little veggies. Cool bit about the boogie boarding, too. Ice cream
after dinner?? And sharing ice cream? Um, okay. I'll work on changing the order of my eating habits and adopting proper WISHer etiquette.
Btw, I like your "plan" for making Hawaii and Disney more affordable--I just need to make more friends and find more long-lost relatives. Hey, did I ever tell you that you look just like my second cousin once removed?
Allyson: I think it's already been mentioned by Claire, but
MfM also has a run/walk or a walk/run plan--I used the RW to train for. I find that a walk interval now and then helps me with my HR and with the mental challenges of the distance. Not that you need to abandon any idea of running 30 minutes straight--I'm not saying that--but I just think we should all experiment with the running that works for us. I think I'm guided by AmyBeth, who's going back to Galloway for a while. And I'm using walk intervals while I work on speed for a couple of months. So I guess I'm saying there's no one right way to train, just what's right for us as individuals--which will change at different times depending on our goals, our schedules, etc. P.S. My song of the moment: "Mercy" by Duffy. I'm such a bandwagon jumper.
Morgan: Hola, chica! I had no idea you were such a well-traveled, international fashionista. I bow to your glamourous self!
Cam: It's all about the dress!
(And it's even funnier because it's true.) I also loved your realization,
improvement only comes with challenging ourselves.
Thanks for encouraging all of us to move out of our comfort zones and to try new things or new training programs. P.S. WTG with W6D1!
Kira: I just popped into your blog. Wow, you've certainly been busy; it seems like you've transformed your life quite a bit over a very short period of time.
Thanks for sharing that with us. And congratulations on your 5 miler--it sounds like you're finding a good balance of R/W intervals for the distance.
Claire: No, I'm not doing the Goofy this year.
DOOD and I discussed it and we decided (okay, he talked me into it, because he's the reasonable one) and decided to do Goofy every other year. Primarily because the training time makes it hard to meet all our family commitments. Apparently, DOOD thinks that's important.
About chocolate exhibits--I didn't know what quite to expect, but it was a loosely themed exhibit about chocolate production supported by commercial industry. So it was just the regular botanical exhibits with some extra information on cacao. Oh, and a bunch of plastic flamingos, painted brown (chocolate), that indicated the presence of chocolate-plant information. Quite frankly, I didn't get it. But the conservatory was nice, I like them in general, and the admission price got me a free piece of Dove chocolate and a truffle.
Not quite the same a chocolate parties, though, which I'm always on the lookout for.
I hope you enjoyed your speed play in the heat--and maybe finished it off with a tasty beverage. Or maybe ice cream. Chocolate, of course.
Bill: It's so good to know that you had a hand, or is it a fist, in making the cake.
Craig: Glad to have you back online! Your advice to Mel was very sage and, in my experience, not the slightest bit cynical about admissions. Fit is the most important thing. P.S. How's the poor hair appliance?
MB Michelle: Rude comments. Yep, part of my training motivation, too! After your successes, which we all know you'll have, just wear your bling every chance you get. And that knowing smile, the one that says, "Just because YOU can't envision doing it...."
Angie: Good to see you here, even sporadically. Remember the deal with yourself--2 weeks off. Because you're worth it. And it's for your health, the future of your running, and a rocking January marathon. I wish I could answer your question about squats. But, heck, that's why we have so many knowledgeable people around--so we can all learn from the collective WISH wisdom.
Carrie: How DARE you flaunt your ice cream, popcorn, and smores in my face.
It all sounds great--and I actually miss having smores. (No marshmallows for me, as they're not vegetarian. Although I THINK they do make veggie marshmallows. Or it's my wishful thinking.) Congrats on your PR. You were right, my father wasn't filming the race. It was a big enough event for their little station, but they were busy with other local events. Isn't it strange that power gardening can wipe us out more than running? Maybe it's because you weren't engaging your core while weeding?? Hah!
Krista: Ah, so the Flying Pig does compete with the Pgh marathon--or vice versa. What were they thinking? Now I need to decide what to do. DOOD and I had already talked about doing the Pig because of the RRs. Dang it all. Maybe I should do the Pig and invite your BIL to run it with me on my measly RWs? Or do you think he'd prefer the Pgh hills? Yay for your Dr.'s appt. Only 11 weeks left? Wow, it seems like time is going so fast.
Kevin: Great pics of Cotton Row! And very impressive to do the 10K with no training. Um, but you are training for the Goofy right?
At least that's what the siggy lines tell me. You and Howard, always trying new things!
Kristen: You're so funny with the pictures. And you look mahvelous, darling, mahvelous. (Did I just date myself with that reference?)
Amykab: Aw, I'm sorry our DD is sick again. I'm sure she'll get better soon and you can squeeze in some more training. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy some good, high-quality cling time.
Liz: Good news on the healing front. Hopefully you'll be back in (running and biking) action soon, instead of this weekend's near traction status. Good luck with work tomorrow--sitting sounds painful.
Lynnda: If you're ever looking for an excuse to make a cake, I'm sure I can come up with a few.... I'd be willing to tell you my birthday, DOOD's birthday, anniversary, how we celebrate all major holidays (including Arbor Day)....
I hear what you're saying about the Danskin Tri being frustrating for you because of your goals...but when I read your mini RR, I think, "Wow. You beat your biking, you exceeded training in the run...." And even if the swim was frustrating, you certainly learned you need to compete in the next class up of swimmers. Very cool. And you're committed to the event, which I think says it all for me. So yay for the experience. P.S. What are swim angels?
Allie: I think you look great on the course. Look at that form, that kick to your stride! And the bottle is just a little extra color for the total outfit. Good luck packing for DS's trip--and for the early a.m. wake-up call. Ouch.
Howard: I have no doubt that you've got PRs in your future. I've not met you, but it seems to me that you set your sights on your goals and then take the steps to meet them. And you're fast, if you can hit that sub-8 mile.
With all the training, and the encouragement of your family and friends (special shout-outs to Cam, Kristen, Kevin, and the whole Philly-thread gang), how could you go wrong? I'm hoping you get the time to keep the rest of us updated on your training, giving us a little insight on the process.
As for me: The move approacheth! I'm now surrounded by all the objects in my life, cleverly hidden in attractive paper boxes. Makes my think of George Carlin's monologue "Stuff." Except we're moving to a smaller place yet.
It looks like I'm going to need a shoehorn, some Vaseline, and much stronger quads and biceps. Just call me the Maguyver of moving.
Today I also squeezed in some XT, which I'm afraid will get spotty over the next couple of weeks. So my mantra for the first half of June is to trainer smarter and harder, not longer. So tomorrow is a short run, as I work on my speed. Then on to more work, some packing, and some kind of ice cream. Tracy, Jeff, and Maura, among others, have me feeling left out the fun.
And for those who asked: Indiana Jones and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
For the two of you who haven't seen the new Indy Jones yet (did anyone else see those opening weekend figures? $151.1 million in North America!)...I recommend it if you are fans of the earlier films. I didn't see the films until recently--go figure how I could have missed them the first time around--and think they're fun, fluffy adventure action movies. Good for summer days above, say, 85 degrees when you're looking for an excuse to sit in cool, air-conditioned darkness with an icy drink and salty popcorn. It's grounded in the conventions of movie serials, so I find them entertaining. And I certainly appreciate Spielberg's old-school appreciation for camera and stunt work.
If I have any slight criticisms, it's that there's too much cleverness in the very extended action sequences and not enough in the plot/characterization. (The film is stronger than its script, if that makes any sense.) I know it's strange, given that the film sells itself as a loving homage to the second-rate action adventure serials, but I could have done with less stunts. I wanted more Cate Blanchett and Harrison Ford. Even more Ford and Shia LeBeof. More clever dialogue and visual winks to the fanboys and fangirls. And less crystal skull nonsense. Oh, I know that sounds like I disliked the film. I didn't, I'm just pretty critical of all film. The fourth film was good for what it was. Popcorn, summer fun. It's worth the price of a matinee (when we went) or better. I only checked my watch 3 times, which is my version of thumbs up or down, a minimal amount that is pretty darned good for me.
It was really fun, and I am totally hooked on making cakes for any occasion I can think of. (And this really doesn't work well with trying to lose weight and train for endurance events...) 
DH got most of the details. I used a half sheet, then a 10" square, a 9" round, and an 8" round. I carved out the road, then covered everything with buttercream and crushed graham crackers. (Thank you DH!!! 
) The road is fondant with white icing for the stripes. The rocks are fondant, some I tried painting, others I used colored fondant. And the cactus and sign are royal icing, and I painted the sign with food coloring. The lettering was icing because the painting wasn't going as well as I had hoped... but it was super fun to make!!!! Beware the mess that comes from all that crushed graham cracker, though. 
I also need to get a better way to carry my drink than the 99 cent special from Wal Mart. 
No time for more replies. Trying to get DS packed for his mission trip tomorrow. He has to be at the church at 5:45 AM tomorrow. 
::cop: 
You are in so much trouble...
rolleyes: ). The other is not doing a semester in the Disney College Program. I took about 18 credits a semester and had a "free" semester just waiting for me to spend it at Disney with 2 friends from college. Well, my boyfriend at the time absolutely forbid me to do it. He threatened to join the army if I did (and I didn't want him to do that). So, I skipped Disney and graduated with a degree that normally takes 5 years, in 3.5 years. And guess what? We broke up just before I graduated. 
Our professors always told us to major in something else, etc, etc. But did I listen? 
