Hay Mucho Trabajo

You may or may not know that I am planning to run a triathlon in October. Haven´t decided which one, but it will definitely be sprint distance and hopefully involve beer or some sort of spirits at the end of it.

 

I was feeling pretty athletic today and it was hot hot hot, so I threw on my speedo onezie and my rash guard (for sun protection) and set out to take a swim. On my way, I decided to run. So I ran ALL the way to Jesse´s Gym. It seemed really far away. As far as I can guess, this link will lead you to my route (for the lazy, it turned out to be less than a mile). Then I got in the water and decided to swim, like real swimming, not just catching waves and/or letting them thrash my body around. I decided I would swim to the thatched roof house which seemed like it was about 200 or 300 meters away. I guess I dont really know how far that is in real life, but let´s just say I did not make it before saying to myself "maybe you should just catch some waves". So I did. I´m not sure I actually know how to swim properly. I definitely don´t put my face in the water and that seems to be key. Maybe next time I will wear goggles.

 

This whole triathlon training thing is going to be pretty fun (and by fun I mean pathetic)... Oh and my bike handicap? Um, let´s just say the "FearGiant" MTB single speed conversion isn´t exactly going to do the job.

Bob Barker didn´t make it to rural Costa Rica

There are a lot of strange things here in Sàmara... like cattle fields with beach and palm tree back drops, cowboys on bicycle, wild herd dogs, horses roaming the street, tough guys riding beach cruisers, etc. However, one of the most surprisingly strange things is the abundance of dogs with cajones. (I suppose the abundance isn´t so surprising if you really think about it, but I think you know what I mean.)

 

"Help control the pet population; have your pet spayed or neutered."

La Cucaracha Entró

Apparently this trip (to Costa Rica) was meant to build character. Yes, that was the intention. However, I didn´t realize just how much character I would be building. I came home on Wednesday evening to change clothes (I was soaking wet from playing soccer in the rain) to find a giant tropical cockroach on my pillow (and one on my night stand too). I´m getting used to it. I go in, turn on the lights, chase cockroaches for a while, and then turn on the fan, hope for the best, and get in bed. This is big news consdering how I´ve dealt with them in the past.

 

I´m planning to extend my stay in Playa Sàmara, but I´m getting my own apartment for the rest of it.

Study Up

I found the following list written in my Series 6 study books from last Fall. I was clearly fully engaged in learning about variable annuities . . .

• must like wheat bread
• must like sarcastic humor
• must enjoy non-blockbuster films but not expect me to be an expert
• must take interest in social and/or environmental issues
• must be a little romantic with a penchant for sweeping me off my feet, but without being too mushy

• breath-taking good looks are preferable
• familiarity with/knowledge of the female anatomy desired
• personal charm required
• interest in dancing or dance class a plus
• healthy sense of competition/ambition
• willingness to travel

I'm currently interviewing qualified candidates. . .

Motley Princess Strikes Again

Life is about to get a little crazier. Tuesday was my last day of a 2+ year job that I wasn't really excited about anymore. So now I start an adventure. I'm going to Costa Rica next Thursday and not coming back until October 1. The plan is to learn some Spanish, learn how to surf, go on zip-line canopy tours, get from place to place on horseback, and generally enjoy myself. I bought a new fancy rain jacket because I'm supposed to see a lot of that. I bought a refurbished ipod nano. I'll probably buy a few other toys before I go.

Wait a second.... what about when you get back? Well, I don't know. I'll think about that when I'm away. I have some ideas, but no point in spewing out that crap here.

Rest Ice Compression Elevation (RICE)

High school health class came in handy this week. A friend of mine got into what turned out (very luckily) to be a minor motorcycle accident. He rode home from the event without a scratch on the bike and barely a scratch on him. But his ankle was pretty swollen and through a series of phone calls and internet research sessions, we determined it was sprained. So he stayed off of it. We iced it until he couldn't stand it anymore. I learned how to wrap an ace bandage. And of course he kept it elevated.

Pretty good orthopedic nursing job if you ask me. We'll see if he runs that triathlon on Saturday though.

Pray with me.

Anorexia Bicicleta

I made a few more changes to the bike. New back wheel and hub. Ditched
old cassette (the cogs/gears in the back). Replaced tires with much
skinnier ones. Removed lock holster. Removed bracket for bike pump
(since I don't have one). Removed bell (might put it back on). New
single cog in back.

All in all: Bike lost 9 pounds and a whole lot of extraneous junk and
I can carry it down 7 flights of stairs in heels. It looks kind of
like it's anorexic.

Now I need pedals to clip into, shoes, and a water bottle cage.
That'll be next month.

Converted!

A friend of mine (B) met a new friend (G) who has an art studio which he lovingly refers to as his "getting dirty space." They were talking at a party and came to the conclusion that they would help me convert my bike. So yesterday, G called B and they made plans to meet. B and I arrived at the studio and 1 hour and a few country songs later, we were flying out of there on my new single speed setup. Removed a couple of chain rings in the front, ditched the shifters and derailleurs, and shortened the chain. We also chopped about an inch and a half off of my handlebars. Way better handling. G also polished my remaining chain ring and it's so pretty.

I still need to get new wheels/tires so that I can get rid of the back cogs and really lighten this baby up, but I can already feel the difference. I'm gonna be one zippy little thing especially after chugging along on 35 pounds of bicycle. But for now, I'm still a little heavy and on an odd gear ratio, so going up hills kinda sucks, but I still rode about 10 miles today -- more than 7 of them were with a friend who lives in Brooklyn now, but was my skating and biking buddy in middle school back in Indianapolis.

Sweet Dreams II

My little sister (age 9) recently had a dream that she went to heaven. So my mom asked, "What did God look like?" Without missing a beat, she replied "He had white pyjamas with red spots all over them, bunny slippers, and spiked hair."

Of course he did.

Not So Cute

Lately, my friend Laura (soycube) has been posting about interesting-looking bugs on her blog. She seems to find them endearing and cute. Well, I had a slightly different experience yesterday morning.

I had just arrived at the office and was taking a quick post-bike ride rinse in the shower, when I saw something moving in my peripheral vision. "Oh, no, you're just imagining it as usual" I thought. Then I looked again and on the wall of my shower was a 2+ inch long water bug (some might say cockroach).

So imagine: I'm completely nude, trapped in a small room with a huge bug, with no options but to take it on. So I did, but not without repeatedly screaming at the top of my lungs. My colleagues came running down the hall thinking that I was being attacked (I was). One thought I was singing, but he obviously has very little faith in my ability.

It was terrifying. I couldn't escape (because I had no clothes on), I couldn't get help (same reason), and I had to take on this battle in the nude (which is extra terrifying when you hate creepy crawlies like I do). I felt like I was Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises, only I was armed with a Puma (shoe) and not a knife. But I got the job done. It took me a few hours of cooling off to be able to go back in there and remove the carcass, however. But I did that too.