Snow, Sisters, and Sales (and training begins)

I don't even know how to describe this weekend. Cold, exhausting, and exciting pretty much sum it up. It started on Thursday when we got our biggest snow of the year. I'm not sure how much we ended up with, but it came up to my knees. And it took me an hour to get home from work, when it usually takes me 15 minutes! Just when you think it's Spring. The picture below is of the bikes in front of my apartment building. This weekend was also the 9th annual Deals on Wheels tent sale at Bicycle Village. And I was a cashier for the event. The sale last all day Saturday Sunday down in Boulder. There were some great deals on bikes and apparel. The only bad thing was we were in a tent which was a wind tunnel and about 15 degrees cooler than it was outside.

Also this weekend, I got to spend Saturday night with my sister!! It was such a huge surprise but so great to see her for a little bit! She was in Oklahoma visiting family and her connecting flight back to San Diego was cancelled. So I got to spend the night with her! I'll take a short visit over no visit any day.

And today is the start of my training program for the Bolder Boulder. I have the goal of breaking an hour this year. Last year I came so close...1:06. I have exactly 55 days and 20 hours to get ready!

Friday Funny

I don't think she likes it very much....

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

The only people who want and appreciate change are wet babies.

~Mark Twain

Weekend With the Witters

Ben's parents were in town for a short weekend visit. We went up to Echo Lake for a short hike, went to church, out to dinner, and then Ben and I went to the Phantom of the Opera. It was a great visit!

Friday Funny

Buddy and his wife Edna went to the state fair every year, and every year Buddy would say, "Edna, I'd like to ride in that helicopter."
Edna always replied, "I know Buddy, but that helicopter ride is fifty bucks, and fifty bucks is fifty bucks."
One year at the fair, Buddy said, "Edna, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance."
To this, Edna replied, "Buddy, that helicopter ride is fifty bucks, and fifty bucks is fifty bucks."
The pilot overheard the couple and said, "Folks, I'll make you a deal. I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and don't say one word, I won't charge you a penny! But if you say just one word, it's fifty dollars."
Buddy and Edna agreed and up they went.
The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word...
When they landed, the pilot turned to Buddy and said, "By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell, but you didn't. I'm impressed!"
Buddy replied, "Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Edna fell out, but you know, fifty bucks is fifty bucks!"

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Today's quote is in honor of march madness that is about to get started.....

"Dispy-doo dunkeroo, slam-jam-bam, baby!!" ~Dick Vitale

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

Runnin' of the Green

Today I ran my first St. Paddy's day race. The Runnin' of the Green is a 7K race that winds through the street of downtown. More than 5,000 people turned out for the race and it was a lot of fun! St. Paddy's day wouldn't be complete without bagpippers, cloggers, and crazy costumes! Heather, Jodi, Me, Casey, Kady, and Laurie before the race

The starting lineCelebrating afterwards

Sweet, Sweet Success!

Normally, Fridays are reserved for Friday Funnies, but today I'm just too excited! It's been a month since I first met with my trainer, and this morning we did a follow up weigh in and measurement session. To be honest, I've been dreading it and felt like I was making no progress whatsoever. I was pleasantly surprised this morning! Everything is at least an inch smaller!!! Well, except my calves, but those don't really count anyways. I've lost 3 pounds and 2% body fat. Woo Hoo!!! I finally feel like all the calorie counting and hours at the gym are paying off!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

"Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired." ~George Patton

First Flowers

Living in an apartment, I don't get the joy of having flowers in my front yard. But Ben does, and this past weekend, the first flowers of spring popped out! I love spring. I love the sunshine and the longer days. The hint of coolness in the mornings. The new life that pops up everywhere. Green grass. There's just something about spring that makes me happy. And I'm so excited that it's just around the corner!

Friday Funny

Grandma was turning 100, so her family threw a little party to celebrate. They wheeled Grandma out to the lawn in her wheelchair where the activities were taking place.

Grandma couldn't speak very well, but she could write notes when she needed to communicate. After a short time out on the lawn, Grandma started leaning off to the right, so some family members grabbed her, straightened he up, and stuffed pillows on her right.

A short time later, she started leaning off to her left. So again, the family grabbed her and stuffed pillows on her left. Soon she started leaning forward, so the family members grabbed her again then tied a pillowcase around her waist to hold her up.

A nephew who arrived late came running up to Grandma and said, "Hi Grandma, You're looking good! How are they treating you?"

Grandma took out her little notepad and slowly wrote a note to her nephew, "They won't let me fart."

Every Week Should Be Restaurant Week

The past 2 weeks have been Restaurant Week in Denver. That's where some of the best restaurants around put together a multi course meal and only charge $52.80 per couple. And, it's great places, like Capital Grille, Melting Pot, nine75. Places that are normally way out of my budget! Last night Ben and I went to Sullivan's and it was AMAZING! They had live jazz music, a great atmosphere, and delicious food! I was so full I could only eat one bite of dessert. So it's probably good for my waistline that it only happens once a year! If you've never been, I'd recommend going next year.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Try not to become a person of success but rather to become a person of value. ~Albert Einstein

It's ironic that sometimes I feel like I have to hide my struggles and worries from God. That He's too busy or too big to care about the tiny details and worries of my everyday life. It's funny that just when I'm about to feel overwhelmed, God puts something right in front of me that opens my eyes and makes me realize that nothing, absolutely nothing is too small for him to care about. It's time to get real and stop fooling ourselves. God knows the struggles. He feels the pain. He understands the doubt. But, He cannot transform what we do not bring to His feet. He cannot heal what we do not let Him touch. He cannot free us from what we hold so dear. Think about the deepest places of who you are and then tell Him. Get real with Him. Lay it all out there. He is your best friend, your biggest fan, your softest teacher, your Most Honorable King. Tell Him. He is not surprised and welcomes your honesty. Whatever is denied cannot be healed. Don't deny yourself the opportunity of complete healing, freedom, and finding the real you!