Here are some Niger updates by the BBC. There is a big concern for a famine this year. I can tell you that the weather was "wacky" when I was there. It was way too hot for that time of year and if it isn't raining now, that is a bad sign.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8637487.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8648215.stm
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
hot fudge sundae
for dinner last night i went to McDonalds and got a hot fudge sundae in memory of yiayia. it was delicious, but so much less satisfying than what she is experiencing now.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Triathlon Schedule
This is my triathlon schedule for the year...my high ambitions are that I place in all of them except for the 70.3. I know even dreaming of placing in that one isn't realistic. Still, placing in all of the others is a huge stretch too. We'll see!
Gateway to the Bay Triathlon---Done!
Combat Triathlon---Sprint---May29th
Sylvan Beach Triathlon---Olympic---June 13th
July is Angie's wedding month....no room for Tri!
Bridgeland Triathlon---Sprint---August 8
TowneLake Triathlon---Olympic---September 26 (just in time to taper!!)
Austin 70.3---Half Ironman---October 17th
only one half this year because of all the festivities and going to Niger. It was completely worth it....i have thoughts for next year though. they might involve some additional running events....we'll see!
Gateway to the Bay Triathlon---Done!
Combat Triathlon---Sprint---May29th
Sylvan Beach Triathlon---Olympic---June 13th
July is Angie's wedding month....no room for Tri!
Bridgeland Triathlon---Sprint---August 8
TowneLake Triathlon---Olympic---September 26 (just in time to taper!!)
Austin 70.3---Half Ironman---October 17th
only one half this year because of all the festivities and going to Niger. It was completely worth it....i have thoughts for next year though. they might involve some additional running events....we'll see!
thoughts
i'm very reflective today....i guess that is the byproduct of being very tired, but somehow unable to sleep!
last weekend i was in Grand Rapids, MI to participate in the wedding of my roommate from PA school. besides the travel mis-adventures, it was a really good weekend and i got to see a number of people that i don't get to see enough of. (sorry, no pictures because my camera isn't with me now!)
i was able to see shannon (and her son josiah) from undergrad. she and her husband will, hopefully sometime soon, be headed over to Hong Kong as missionaries. if you are interested in helping get her there, let me know! she is one of those people i just fall into a rhythm with right away even though i've only seen her twice since graduation. we share very similar philosophies on missions and now she has this cute little boy in her care too!
my mom scootched over from the east side of the state to say a little hello. although the time seemed way too short, it was so good to see her. she has spent the whole school year with my dad in Nebraska and she's been very self-sufficient....although she did have someone help with the snow shoveling! i'm so thankful for my parents' devotion to each other through many moves.
this was probably my last trip to michigan for awhile...that is crazy!
colleen, sarah, and kathi were at that wedding too. they were a some of my partners in crime in PA school. it was fun to bring up old memories and talk about our new life events. even though i have no interest in dermatology, 4 day work weeks and free electrolysis sound nice! they are all really thriving at work and home life sounds like it is going well. it was a fun couple years!
of course the woman of the moment was merideth. the wedding was very her (and Pete, actually). it went really well. it was my first (and hopefully last) wedding to sing in and it went okay....i would have liked it to go better, but you can't put me at the end of a ceremony. nerves and emotion combined are not a good thing! she looked gorgeous and i enjoyed seeing Pete and her interact. they are a really good couple. i will admit that i was a little sad as i thought about angie getting married this summer too.....don't you think you two could have planned it a little better?!?!? at least spread them out between 2 years? just kidding! the festivities for angie's wedding will be beginning before we know it!
last weekend i was in Grand Rapids, MI to participate in the wedding of my roommate from PA school. besides the travel mis-adventures, it was a really good weekend and i got to see a number of people that i don't get to see enough of. (sorry, no pictures because my camera isn't with me now!)
i was able to see shannon (and her son josiah) from undergrad. she and her husband will, hopefully sometime soon, be headed over to Hong Kong as missionaries. if you are interested in helping get her there, let me know! she is one of those people i just fall into a rhythm with right away even though i've only seen her twice since graduation. we share very similar philosophies on missions and now she has this cute little boy in her care too!
my mom scootched over from the east side of the state to say a little hello. although the time seemed way too short, it was so good to see her. she has spent the whole school year with my dad in Nebraska and she's been very self-sufficient....although she did have someone help with the snow shoveling! i'm so thankful for my parents' devotion to each other through many moves.
this was probably my last trip to michigan for awhile...that is crazy!
colleen, sarah, and kathi were at that wedding too. they were a some of my partners in crime in PA school. it was fun to bring up old memories and talk about our new life events. even though i have no interest in dermatology, 4 day work weeks and free electrolysis sound nice! they are all really thriving at work and home life sounds like it is going well. it was a fun couple years!
of course the woman of the moment was merideth. the wedding was very her (and Pete, actually). it went really well. it was my first (and hopefully last) wedding to sing in and it went okay....i would have liked it to go better, but you can't put me at the end of a ceremony. nerves and emotion combined are not a good thing! she looked gorgeous and i enjoyed seeing Pete and her interact. they are a really good couple. i will admit that i was a little sad as i thought about angie getting married this summer too.....don't you think you two could have planned it a little better?!?!? at least spread them out between 2 years? just kidding! the festivities for angie's wedding will be beginning before we know it!
a compliment?
so, i was working out on Thursday and a trainer came up to me and said "you sweat more than any other girl i've seen".....i'll take that as a compliment!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Race Report
So, as I warned you, my first triathlon of the season was on Saturday. i wasn't expecting too much because of the 3+ week break in Niger...it actually went great though and it was so fun. i was also excited that i finally got a cap that wasn't PINK!
april and i left the house around 5 AM and headed over to Kemah. oddly, i haven't ever been on the boardwalk itself were everything took place. the race started at 7:00. the water was SUPER choppy. i was so thankful that i knew i was a strong swimmer....it would have scared me if it was my first triathlon swim. times were definitely slower there, but they were for everyone! the goal was not to drown in the waves!
the bike went okay considering the wind as well. for me, the goal is to stay consistent throughout the ride. we had to go up 2 big hills out of the gate and i powered
past some men which is always encouraging! my goal is always to pass more people than pass me. i used to lose that ratio, but on the shorter distance, i passed a lot of people. it was fun! along the way, i always try to tell all the volunteers "thank you".
past some men which is always encouraging! my goal is always to pass more people than pass me. i used to lose that ratio, but on the shorter distance, i passed a lot of people. it was fun! along the way, i always try to tell all the volunteers "thank you". the run was nice and solid. things felt good...considering your legs really feel like pieces of lead getting off the bike. i had worked on this transition a lot though and i could tell. my miles were sub 8 minute. i was very happy!
all in all, i got 2nd in my age group.....i actually got 6th out of all the woman...i'm not exactly sure how many there were and i don't really want to count. approximately 300-350? i'm pretty pumped for my sprint focus this year!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Mining Accidents
There have been a number of mining accidents recently. Think China and West Virginia. When the China accident happened, I was still living in a little hole from my trip. I have watched the news though this past week about West Virginia. One thing has really struck me....they don't seem shocked by what happened and I haven't seen a family that has been upset with the company yet.
Maybe that is just the stations I'm watching, but people are talking about their family members....how they liked to hunt and fish....how mining was their life.
it had become so much their life that they didn't see the danger. they knew the potential for danger existed, but they weren't upset or angry at the source of the danger---the mine that was not up to code.
this leads me to think about how many times we are lulled into a false sense of security. sometimes it is by good things that we tend to get caught up in...family, career, reaching a goal. other times it is that gradual decline. we enter into something that we know might be dangerous to us morally, physically, spiritually, or emotionally and gradually we lose the acute sense of danger...so much that when things start falling apart, we don't even think to "blame" the root of the problem.
something to think about...
Maybe that is just the stations I'm watching, but people are talking about their family members....how they liked to hunt and fish....how mining was their life.
it had become so much their life that they didn't see the danger. they knew the potential for danger existed, but they weren't upset or angry at the source of the danger---the mine that was not up to code.
this leads me to think about how many times we are lulled into a false sense of security. sometimes it is by good things that we tend to get caught up in...family, career, reaching a goal. other times it is that gradual decline. we enter into something that we know might be dangerous to us morally, physically, spiritually, or emotionally and gradually we lose the acute sense of danger...so much that when things start falling apart, we don't even think to "blame" the root of the problem.
something to think about...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
triathlon
okay, i haven't posted on a triathlon in a long time....because i haven't done one in a long time!
this saturday is the first of season. it is in Kemah, Texas. the weather should be nice, although actually a little chilly in the morning. i do think that it is funny that we pay money to get up SUPER early on a saturday to then swim, bike, and run a specified distance. it is great fun!
on my trip, i definitely was reminded that triathlon is just a hobby....it isn't necessary for life and can easily become a distraction or even an idol (just like anything can). this year, i'm going to stick to shorter races so that all my time isn't spent in the pool or on a bike. if i do a 70.3, it will be at the end of the season.
i don't have high hopes for this saturday. i'm feeling pretty good, despite the 3+ weeks away. i'm sure i'll be wishing that i had been in the pool and on the bike more recently though!
this saturday is the first of season. it is in Kemah, Texas. the weather should be nice, although actually a little chilly in the morning. i do think that it is funny that we pay money to get up SUPER early on a saturday to then swim, bike, and run a specified distance. it is great fun!
on my trip, i definitely was reminded that triathlon is just a hobby....it isn't necessary for life and can easily become a distraction or even an idol (just like anything can). this year, i'm going to stick to shorter races so that all my time isn't spent in the pool or on a bike. if i do a 70.3, it will be at the end of the season.
i don't have high hopes for this saturday. i'm feeling pretty good, despite the 3+ weeks away. i'm sure i'll be wishing that i had been in the pool and on the bike more recently though!
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