Well...
I had a few things on my "to do before I die" list...
65) Hitch-hike somewhere
66) Pick up a hitch-hiker.
I successfully completed those two things in the last year. I hitch-hiked with my snowboard in Vail, and picked up a random dude on the side of the road one night after a late night study session near Stella's. He needed a ride home, and had 5 miles to walk. I felt bad, so I picked him up. I know, I got the lecture from a thousand people now...I won't do it again unless I have someone with me!
That's not the reason for this email, though. This is actually a shout out to Shi and Sonya for the hitch-hiking extravaganza that we witnessed on our way to meet Kari and Abby for Ab's birthday celebration. We saw a rather rough hitch hiker on the exit ramp of Hampden to Northbound I-25...while waiting for the traffic light at the bottom of the ramp we saw a truck actually stop and get the guy! So, I'm thinking that I could hitch hike my way to work now that the gas prices are stinkin' expensive.... what do you think?
Monday, June 23, 2008
Granny Lady, Mr. Competition, Mr. Splashy, Mr. Speedo ...and stuff...
Ok - so I haven't blogged in a while about the gym, tri-training, or life in general. This morning, I hope to give you some insight on how my day began...
5:00a.m. is not as early as it used to be. I even got to sleep in a bit this morning, until about 5:25 and still made it to the gym before 6! So that was a good thing! And I didn't hear from Heather so I was sure this week would start off right at the gym!
Then....I showed up. Tamerac square - 5:41am. There weren't too many people in the parking lot this morning, so I figured that the gym would be rather empty, and it was! First things first, I decided that I'm not overly fond of the guy that checks me in at the gym in the morning. I'm not sure if I'm just that cranky that early in the morning (perhaps you can ask Heather?), or if I'm just not really wanting someone to tell me that I can make it in earlier to the gym if I just tried harder...something about that is rather annoying!
Anyway, I got over that rather quick - well I've had to he's there every morning! I'm slightly earlier than usual to meet Heather for a swim day, but I figured I could just jump into the pool to reserve the middle lane (this is the best lane b/c then no one has to swim by the wall!). Bright and early 5:45a it's just me and granny! (I love the granny lady - she always swims in the far left lane slowly FOREVER! I'm impressed, I hope when I'm 75 I can totally do that!... sorry about the side note.)
I get in and shortly after a man joins the pool in the far right lane; meaning that all 3 lanes are full, and we're going to have to start sharing. Another man comes in...he jumps in the far right lane with the other dude. I intentionally swam in the center of my lane, and continued to swim (even though I was exhausted) to avoid him jumping in my lane! (I was trying to hold the lane for Heather and I, so I wasn't trying to be overly rude (at this point) I just wanted to make sure I was trying to keep room for Heather in my lane.) So another 10 minutes goes by and....and it's nearly 615. I'm wondering if Heather is running late or if I'm going to be swimming alone? It didn't matter, I was already there and swimming, it's just more fun with another person! Soon after I think that another man walks out....so again, I try to swim in the center of my lane without stopping for several lengths to avoid him jumping in my lane. I thought for sure he'd jump in with granny since she stops every length to turn around....
OH NO..I was SOOOO wrong. Granted I was intentionally trying to keep him out of my lane (perhaps rude, but also figured that if Heather showed up it would be better for the two of us to be in the same lane...), but he jumped in my lane with me. Just so you all know, there is swimming pool etiquette! You're supposed to wait and ask someone to share a lane....eventually they will stop and if you're in the lane by yourself you're supposed to share. (I would have shared more gladly if he would have waited to ask...) Anyway, I figured by that time I didn't need to save a lane any more so I just moved over and kept swimming. No biggie until I realized who it was....MR. COMPETITION! GRRR...he's the man that was competing with me the other morning when I was there with Heather. Now I was actually annoyed. I was wondering if he was going to try and compete with me all morning long! So I just kept doing my thing, and ignoring him. I thought about stopping to ask his name just so I wouldn't call him Mr. Competition any longer, but he jumped out rather quickly after 30 minutes of swimming. Anyway, the competition wasn't nearly as bad this morning. Perhaps because he realized that I am faster than him! ;O) (HEHE- Just Kidding!) Honestly, he wasn't a bad lane partner because he didn't splash too much, and actually kept to his side...so despite his past impressions with me...I'd still swim in the lane with him again. However, I wouldn't swim with MR. SPLASHY. He is there most mornings, and splahes all over the place. I think he thinks it makes him faster!?!? Hmmm.. yep, wouldn't share with him, he practically tried to drown me this morning!
Which brings me to my next observation of the morning... yep there was more than one! Observation number 2 was one noticed while in the act of swimming.... So I breathe every 6 strokes; meaning that I would breathe to both sides, so I can see what's happening on either side of me. Well, I see a man showering before entering ______. It was undecided at that point where he was headed (hot tub, sauna, steam room, or pool...) Anyway, he was in a speedo. A little background before I continue...I've swam for a long time (10+ years) and so I've seen my share of speedo's and mostly naked men (perhaps that's why I'm so okay with nudity?). With that being said, this man in the speedo needed to reevaluate that situation. Here's why... Over the years a speedo (girls or guys) will wear out, and in that it stretches out. Therefore, you need to either throw it away, or use it as a drag suit. Typically men throw theirs away and move on...a speedo drag suit on a dude is awfully weird! Anyway...this man was showering off and his speedo was practically falling off. This was a rather small man, with a large suit on. It was clearly not a good situation, therefore, I decided to breathe the other direction until he was no longer standing at the shower adjusting himself back into his speedo. I think I might be scarred!!
Oh that's not the end... I will never again (wait, I will never for the first time ever) get into the hot tub there. I find it rather odd that it was foamy without any one in it or the jets running. Something seems off in that situation?
It's still not the end...I typically end up sitting in the sauna for a few minutes post swim to help sweat out some of the chlorine so I don't smell like it all the time. Well I walk in and it's empty, but hanging on the wooden rail is a speedo...a men's speedo. WEIRD! Why is that in there without anyone in it? Is there a naked man running around?
Last but not least....I find it rather odd that there were all men in the pool area this morning, besides granny and I. And even more odd...that they all didn't stay longer than-- oh-- 15 minutes or so...except for Mr. Competition he was there for a good 30. I'm just thinking that is it really worth getting all chlorinated up if you'll only be there for 15 minutes?
Ok...that's all for this morning. I'm sure more weird things will happen later today. Perhaps when I lift at lunch, or run after work? Who knows?!? I will be interested to see!
Happy Trails!
M
5:00a.m. is not as early as it used to be. I even got to sleep in a bit this morning, until about 5:25 and still made it to the gym before 6! So that was a good thing! And I didn't hear from Heather so I was sure this week would start off right at the gym!
Then....I showed up. Tamerac square - 5:41am. There weren't too many people in the parking lot this morning, so I figured that the gym would be rather empty, and it was! First things first, I decided that I'm not overly fond of the guy that checks me in at the gym in the morning. I'm not sure if I'm just that cranky that early in the morning (perhaps you can ask Heather?), or if I'm just not really wanting someone to tell me that I can make it in earlier to the gym if I just tried harder...something about that is rather annoying!
Anyway, I got over that rather quick - well I've had to he's there every morning! I'm slightly earlier than usual to meet Heather for a swim day, but I figured I could just jump into the pool to reserve the middle lane (this is the best lane b/c then no one has to swim by the wall!). Bright and early 5:45a it's just me and granny! (I love the granny lady - she always swims in the far left lane slowly FOREVER! I'm impressed, I hope when I'm 75 I can totally do that!... sorry about the side note.)
I get in and shortly after a man joins the pool in the far right lane; meaning that all 3 lanes are full, and we're going to have to start sharing. Another man comes in...he jumps in the far right lane with the other dude. I intentionally swam in the center of my lane, and continued to swim (even though I was exhausted) to avoid him jumping in my lane! (I was trying to hold the lane for Heather and I, so I wasn't trying to be overly rude (at this point) I just wanted to make sure I was trying to keep room for Heather in my lane.) So another 10 minutes goes by and....and it's nearly 615. I'm wondering if Heather is running late or if I'm going to be swimming alone? It didn't matter, I was already there and swimming, it's just more fun with another person! Soon after I think that another man walks out....so again, I try to swim in the center of my lane without stopping for several lengths to avoid him jumping in my lane. I thought for sure he'd jump in with granny since she stops every length to turn around....
OH NO..I was SOOOO wrong. Granted I was intentionally trying to keep him out of my lane (perhaps rude, but also figured that if Heather showed up it would be better for the two of us to be in the same lane...), but he jumped in my lane with me. Just so you all know, there is swimming pool etiquette! You're supposed to wait and ask someone to share a lane....eventually they will stop and if you're in the lane by yourself you're supposed to share. (I would have shared more gladly if he would have waited to ask...) Anyway, I figured by that time I didn't need to save a lane any more so I just moved over and kept swimming. No biggie until I realized who it was....MR. COMPETITION! GRRR...he's the man that was competing with me the other morning when I was there with Heather. Now I was actually annoyed. I was wondering if he was going to try and compete with me all morning long! So I just kept doing my thing, and ignoring him. I thought about stopping to ask his name just so I wouldn't call him Mr. Competition any longer, but he jumped out rather quickly after 30 minutes of swimming. Anyway, the competition wasn't nearly as bad this morning. Perhaps because he realized that I am faster than him! ;O) (HEHE- Just Kidding!) Honestly, he wasn't a bad lane partner because he didn't splash too much, and actually kept to his side...so despite his past impressions with me...I'd still swim in the lane with him again. However, I wouldn't swim with MR. SPLASHY. He is there most mornings, and splahes all over the place. I think he thinks it makes him faster!?!? Hmmm.. yep, wouldn't share with him, he practically tried to drown me this morning!
Which brings me to my next observation of the morning... yep there was more than one! Observation number 2 was one noticed while in the act of swimming.... So I breathe every 6 strokes; meaning that I would breathe to both sides, so I can see what's happening on either side of me. Well, I see a man showering before entering ______. It was undecided at that point where he was headed (hot tub, sauna, steam room, or pool...) Anyway, he was in a speedo. A little background before I continue...I've swam for a long time (10+ years) and so I've seen my share of speedo's and mostly naked men (perhaps that's why I'm so okay with nudity?). With that being said, this man in the speedo needed to reevaluate that situation. Here's why... Over the years a speedo (girls or guys) will wear out, and in that it stretches out. Therefore, you need to either throw it away, or use it as a drag suit. Typically men throw theirs away and move on...a speedo drag suit on a dude is awfully weird! Anyway...this man was showering off and his speedo was practically falling off. This was a rather small man, with a large suit on. It was clearly not a good situation, therefore, I decided to breathe the other direction until he was no longer standing at the shower adjusting himself back into his speedo. I think I might be scarred!!
Oh that's not the end... I will never again (wait, I will never for the first time ever) get into the hot tub there. I find it rather odd that it was foamy without any one in it or the jets running. Something seems off in that situation?
It's still not the end...I typically end up sitting in the sauna for a few minutes post swim to help sweat out some of the chlorine so I don't smell like it all the time. Well I walk in and it's empty, but hanging on the wooden rail is a speedo...a men's speedo. WEIRD! Why is that in there without anyone in it? Is there a naked man running around?
Last but not least....I find it rather odd that there were all men in the pool area this morning, besides granny and I. And even more odd...that they all didn't stay longer than-- oh-- 15 minutes or so...except for Mr. Competition he was there for a good 30. I'm just thinking that is it really worth getting all chlorinated up if you'll only be there for 15 minutes?
Ok...that's all for this morning. I'm sure more weird things will happen later today. Perhaps when I lift at lunch, or run after work? Who knows?!? I will be interested to see!
Happy Trails!
M
Monday, June 2, 2008
Fake Tan Man
Stupid idiot!
That's what I kept thinking as a swam this morning....
Heather is my witness...this fake tan man was trying to race me. I just know it. I'm not paranoid or loosing my marbles, as some may think...this man was really trying to race me. It took him 15 minutes just to get into the pool (I'm thinking he was scared of the cooooold water!)...then he proceeded to just do his little thing for a while (not sure what he was doing actually, maybe just floating??). Minutes later I felt a strange shadow over my left shoulder (he was in the lane next to us on the left side). But for at least 30 minutes he was doing what we were doing in the pool (minus the kick board) and every time I started to swim he would swim right next to me pretty much racing me... so...since I'm not competitive at all... I had to beat him. HEHE! :) [This kind of worked out in my favor for training purposes, because I wasn't feeling like trying very hard today since I was so tired...this kept me from being lazy!]
Besides me having to beat him, I'm not sure that I would encourage any man to wear his outfit. They were the smallest little short/speedo things I've ever seen, and I've seen A LOT! SCARY! I didn't realize this, but Heather noticed that his tan was so fake that his arm pits were white! I guess that's a lesson for all those fake-n-bakers out there!
Can skin cancer spread in pools?
Mandi
That's what I kept thinking as a swam this morning....
Heather is my witness...this fake tan man was trying to race me. I just know it. I'm not paranoid or loosing my marbles, as some may think...this man was really trying to race me. It took him 15 minutes just to get into the pool (I'm thinking he was scared of the cooooold water!)...then he proceeded to just do his little thing for a while (not sure what he was doing actually, maybe just floating??). Minutes later I felt a strange shadow over my left shoulder (he was in the lane next to us on the left side). But for at least 30 minutes he was doing what we were doing in the pool (minus the kick board) and every time I started to swim he would swim right next to me pretty much racing me... so...since I'm not competitive at all... I had to beat him. HEHE! :) [This kind of worked out in my favor for training purposes, because I wasn't feeling like trying very hard today since I was so tired...this kept me from being lazy!]
Besides me having to beat him, I'm not sure that I would encourage any man to wear his outfit. They were the smallest little short/speedo things I've ever seen, and I've seen A LOT! SCARY! I didn't realize this, but Heather noticed that his tan was so fake that his arm pits were white! I guess that's a lesson for all those fake-n-bakers out there!
Can skin cancer spread in pools?
Mandi
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Sheesh - Ferone is a mad man!
So I rode with Chris H and Ferone on Sunday.....
I think my legs tired to fall off! I got WORKED! Good thing...make me work off my money maker a little faster...maybe running won't be so hard now!
So boys when are we going to ride again? I need my butt in shape for this TRI, and if I chase you guys regularly...it's surely going to help!
Average speed on the way to REI - 23mph! Way home - 8mph (ok not quite, but that's how it felt.)
I'm thinking that I can make it to work faster on my bike than in my car...that could be a great seeing that gas prices are $10/gallon!
I think my legs tired to fall off! I got WORKED! Good thing...make me work off my money maker a little faster...maybe running won't be so hard now!
So boys when are we going to ride again? I need my butt in shape for this TRI, and if I chase you guys regularly...it's surely going to help!
Average speed on the way to REI - 23mph! Way home - 8mph (ok not quite, but that's how it felt.)
I'm thinking that I can make it to work faster on my bike than in my car...that could be a great seeing that gas prices are $10/gallon!
Friday, May 23, 2008
My home town was bullied!
Photos found on Google -
Photos below are by Andrea Johnston - 
The sky was dark, and wind was howling...the hail was baseball sized...as the clouds started swirling... a girl ran into a small farm house to hunker down for the storm As Dorothy lie in fear waiting she cried..."There's no place like home, there's no place like home..." while holding her small dog, Toto.
Well... yet another exciting thing to happen in Greeley Colorado. It's a famous town, everyone wants to be from there...well until yesterday. As many of you know the tornado hit my home town and neighboring town (Windsor) yesterday afternoon.
Mom and Dad and baby sister Sage (my dog) reported to be okay, along with the grandparents and aunts and uncles...so that's good. I suppose this is just too close to home for me to feel okay. I'm still kind of shook up knowing that this thing was less than 5 miles from my parents house, and less than 2 miles from my mom while she was working. I drive by that State Farm on my way home for crying out loud! Wonder what it looks like without a roof!??
My mom said that she was a storm chaser...well not really. She went to Windsor right after the tornado hit and said it was so devastating. I was looking a photos of the cemetery in Windsor where trees are pulled up...oh I've been by there a 1000 times since my dad used to work across the street at Kodak for about that long...it's weird to think that is destroyed now!
I've attached a few photos from Andrea Johnson's blog (no idea who she is but she took some great photos that you should see. Her blog is http://anjohnston.blogspot.com/2008/05/greeleys-tornado.html) and a few others from the Internet that show how crazy it was!
I just hope and pray for the families affected by the tornado!
Here's the story from the Greeley Tribune -- http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20080523/NEWS/139425025
Here is a slide show from 9 news:
http://www.9news.com/9slideshows/Weld%20County%20Tornado%205-22-08/Default.aspx?N=0
http://www.9news.com/9slideshows/Weld%20County%20Tornado%205-22-08/Default.aspx?N=0
Hugs- Mandi
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Body Builder Boobs
Ok...so training is going well..no weird things happening so far this week, minus the body builder boobs.
Locker rooms are weird and awkward in the first place. So why do people do awkward things in there to draw attention to themselves? OKAY - I don't have a problem with nudity...honestly. However, there is what I consider a level of respectful modesty in a locker room with people you do not know, especially after you've been working out and are REALLY sweaty! Is there something wrong with a towel?
This concept does not seem to phase certain people. Clearly old people get a free pass. You're in the gym and good for you! Not that I like seeing old people naked, but they've lived far longer than I have for me to have any room for negotiation in this matter... However, those with boob jobs or are body builders...or even better yet - the combination - SHOULD NOT WALK AROUND NAKED.
It's hard to miss a double D boob on a girl that's rail thin and ripped. I am as hetero as it gets, but HOLY FREAKING COW is it really necessary to walk around like that in the locker room? As hard as one can try, you cannot NOT look, it's right there flashing you in the face (literally)!! Most of us have a big enough complex as it is, we don't need to see your itty bitty nipples that belong on a size A boob tagged to a double D because you lost your boobs from the steroids and mass amounts of lifting you do, and then replaced the missing body party by a boob job! (lame!)
Ok I need to be honest with you....so she doesn't walk around naked the WHOLE time, but probably 97.8497% of the time (I verified this number with a reliable source, that being my work out buddy - Heather Atkinson). When she DOES wear a towel, it is complimented with an accessory...that being a large paper clip (you know- the black kind that would hold a large stack of paper together in an attorney's office). If you need a paper clip to hold your towel up - it is clear that you do not have real boobs. Your secret it out...we all know! And guess what, we don't really care because they're just fatty tissue anyway... For better response see the locker room without a skirt!
....and cellulite...it was discovered today (as we see her everyday in the locker room) that she does not have any of this material in her body. She decided to grace Heather with a "naked squat" right in front of her today, which showed Heather basically a close up of her... well...as Kari likes to say, "lady land." Buttocks and all - EXPOSED to Heather, without her permission! You know...NEVER did I hear Heather ask for any kind of demonstration on the "squat," nor did I hear any request for a "show"...it was intrusive to say the least!
By all means, I love working out, and I like to lift...but shouldn't there be a rule that girls can't do that?! I hardly find it to be envious, as many of you may think as you read this. It's really more of question --WHY? WHY must you do this? Why, Why, WHY FREAKING WHY?
Locker rooms are weird and awkward in the first place. So why do people do awkward things in there to draw attention to themselves? OKAY - I don't have a problem with nudity...honestly. However, there is what I consider a level of respectful modesty in a locker room with people you do not know, especially after you've been working out and are REALLY sweaty! Is there something wrong with a towel?
This concept does not seem to phase certain people. Clearly old people get a free pass. You're in the gym and good for you! Not that I like seeing old people naked, but they've lived far longer than I have for me to have any room for negotiation in this matter... However, those with boob jobs or are body builders...or even better yet - the combination - SHOULD NOT WALK AROUND NAKED.
It's hard to miss a double D boob on a girl that's rail thin and ripped. I am as hetero as it gets, but HOLY FREAKING COW is it really necessary to walk around like that in the locker room? As hard as one can try, you cannot NOT look, it's right there flashing you in the face (literally)!! Most of us have a big enough complex as it is, we don't need to see your itty bitty nipples that belong on a size A boob tagged to a double D because you lost your boobs from the steroids and mass amounts of lifting you do, and then replaced the missing body party by a boob job! (lame!)
Ok I need to be honest with you....so she doesn't walk around naked the WHOLE time, but probably 97.8497% of the time (I verified this number with a reliable source, that being my work out buddy - Heather Atkinson). When she DOES wear a towel, it is complimented with an accessory...that being a large paper clip (you know- the black kind that would hold a large stack of paper together in an attorney's office). If you need a paper clip to hold your towel up - it is clear that you do not have real boobs. Your secret it out...we all know! And guess what, we don't really care because they're just fatty tissue anyway... For better response see the locker room without a skirt!
....and cellulite...it was discovered today (as we see her everyday in the locker room) that she does not have any of this material in her body. She decided to grace Heather with a "naked squat" right in front of her today, which showed Heather basically a close up of her... well...as Kari likes to say, "lady land." Buttocks and all - EXPOSED to Heather, without her permission! You know...NEVER did I hear Heather ask for any kind of demonstration on the "squat," nor did I hear any request for a "show"...it was intrusive to say the least!
By all means, I love working out, and I like to lift...but shouldn't there be a rule that girls can't do that?! I hardly find it to be envious, as many of you may think as you read this. It's really more of question --WHY? WHY must you do this? Why, Why, WHY FREAKING WHY?
Friday, May 16, 2008
3:50 AM
So I decided today that the hours of 215a-459a should actually be considered a different day! I'm not sure it really qualifies as "night" or "morning"....neighter of those options seem very fitting!
Olson - that's the last time I get up that early for a field trip to the airport! :) (ok probably not, but it was freakishly early!)
Olson - that's the last time I get up that early for a field trip to the airport! :) (ok probably not, but it was freakishly early!)
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