{family}

I've had a few of you ask what my sibs are up to lately. Too long to blog about, but there's one thing I can tell you: No fewer than four of these women pictured considered retaining a divorce attorney after this photo shoot in San Diego last year. (aren't those vibrant jewel tones gorgeous?!)

Rhetorical question: "Why would men rather shoot their kneecaps off with a shotgun than have a family photoshoot?"

See if you can guess who my actual sibs are. HINT: I have two brothers and two sisters.

Mid-Life Crisis

Old Roomie Kris: "Why don't you ever blog about your training?"

SheRox Sprint Triathlon Sat, May 10.

400 meter swim

5K run

12.5 bike ride

Started training in January.

Got new road bike.

Got McSporty Spice one too.

He never uses his.

Because HE is always watching kids while I train.

Tuesday nights ASU for swim coaching.

http://www.3in1coaching.com/

$100/month for coaching/personalized training plan.

Highly recommend coaching for this type of event.

To prevent injury/learn technique.

Also have very cool mentor courtesy of SheRox.

Finally running entire 5K, not walk/running.

McThoughtful made me excellent iPod mix for my runs.

Run M/W with friends from ward at 6:00 am.

They run 8 minute miles.

I do not.

Hip aches mostly.

Knees holding up OK.

Swam open water 800m w/wetsuit in Saguaro Lake.

Love buoyancy of wetsuit.

Saturday bike rides in a.m. with group.

Rode 25 miles on uphill course last Sat. to Fountain Hills.

Tired/sore most days.

Why don't I have more energy?

Exhiliarated and motivated immediately after workouts.

Worried about burnout.

Not much extra time for blogging.

Going to bed earlier with McEarly-to-Bed.

Picture myself crossing finish line and hugging husband/kids.

Family has sacrificed and misses me.

McSupportive especially misses me.

McSupportive growing weary of running show at home.

Could NEVER do this w/o his encouragement.

Lost 20 lbs.

Spanx absolutely makes a garment that I use as a "bike short."

Never thought I'd be doing this.

Obsessed? Probably.

Have to be obsessed or you won't do it.

Love pushing my physical limits.

No desire to ever do an IRONMAN.

Those guys are psycho.

But tough as nails.

Confronting fears of the unknown.

Too old for usual antics of skydiving, bungee-diving, etc.

Can't sleep/stomach ache before new stuff, i.e. Open Water swim.

Very expensive to start out.

But then you have it all.

Babysitting budget shot to heck.

Kids tired of babysitters.

Can't wait/scared silly.

One of the hardest things I've ever comitted to.

Doing it.

Bucking the Trends

Something must be wrong with me. First, there's my distaste for Crocs. Those cloggy slippers are ugly and too popular. Then, I was the only woman in America (besides you, Beckz) disinterested in the best-seller Twilight. (Would you just eat her already, Edward?!) Thought the movie Enchanted was lame-O. Patrick Dempsey's winsome and boring character coupled with that horrific mole on Amy Adams' neck killed it for me. And now, I've grown utterly weary of Tuscan/Old World architecture. Arizona has beat this once-popular look right into the bloody ground. Are we in Tuscany, people? I think we're not.

I don't profess to have any architctural prowess, and my tastes do seem to change with the wind. Today, for example, I'm on a contemporary kick. Maybe because I have seen a total of 2 contemporary homes in Gilbert. They're just cool and...well, different. Many of you well know that I'm a freak for HGTV. I'm surprised they haven't issued a restraining order against me for my incessant emails to "Divine Design" with Candace Olsen, wherein I repeatedly get her to try to come rennovate any room in my rental home. I really doubt my landlords would mind. We're signing on the dotted line for another 12 months of renters bliss, hoping that the market continues to fall, but in the meantime, it's been fun to peruse some ridiculously-overpriced homes in the area with McPractical and my sis-in-law Steph.

I used to think contemporary = cold/harsh/angular. But I do love the clean lines and natural finishes like the bamboo wood floor they used in this home. Plus I love the metal roof.


McPracticality's concern? How does one maintain privacy with all those windows, whicih theoretically aren't supposed to have window treatments to preserve the contemporary feel of the home? Good point, McAlwaysThinkin husband of mine. Grow some really tall oleanders around the property, maybe?