We Already...

renamed our new babies. I know, the kittens are going to have identity issues, but hopefully they will get over it.

We named them Tony & Carmella. But Tony just wasn't working for the lil guy. He wasn't fitting the 'Tony Soprano' character. So we came up with different names.

We are nameing them after Shane's maternal grandparents.

Rex & Bette.

I'd like to introduce you to...

Tony & Carmella...

For those that do not watch 'The Soprano's' - their names are from the husband and wife on that show.

These are our new little adopted babies. They are 11 weeks old and each weighs only 3.2 lbs. The little girl is the black one (Carmella) and the boy (Tony) is the gray/brown tiger. They are not brother and sister, but could be for how well they get along. We find them laying in the chair together all time cleaning one another, so darn cute.

We are excited to have kitties again in our life. Its been over two years since we have had a pet.

Kona Pics

I am not even going to write much, just who it is and what it is of. My only comment is 'God Bless the Human Body' and 'Ironman Hawaii'.

The other side of this said 'Athletes in Pain' - someone had stripped the letters off.


Chrissie Wellington at a practice swim pre-race


Coffee Swim - I was so afraid of sharks at that point.


Hanging out at our favorite place - Lava Java



God Bless Dig Me Beach and the BODIES!


Just a few people I got to touch! I haven't showered yet. Ok, kidding.
Chris Lieto


Macca


The start of the UnderPants Run...


Michael & Amanda Lovato - Holy Shit, look at them - hotter than hot!


Have to throw in another booty shot from the 'fun' run.


More to follow from race day!

Day 5 in Kona

Took off from Madison, WI on Saturday, October 3rd for Kona, HI. We have several friends who are racing in the World Championship race this year.

Here are some things we've done so far...
- swam on the Ironman course, pretty cool to see the fish, coral, 30 ft below you

- swam another day out to the Kona Coffee boat. They actually set up a boat and serve you coffee while you tread water. Didn't mind the coffee, as it was very tasty, but hated treading water and thinking something below was going to get me.

- walked up and down the main area on Ali'i Drive, drank several iced lattes at Lava Java (best people watching place)

- rented road bikes and have gone on a few bike rides up and down the Queen K. You would think it is flat, but it is not. Rolling hills. You can stay seated and spin up them, but geesh, not easy with the heat, black pavement and lava all around you, oh and the winds.

- met some of the pro males and females at the expo on Wed

- got in a 5 mile run - held a 9 min pace with some girl - then on the way back, held a 7:54 pace with some guy. People slow down, can't we do my 10 min run with a 1 min walk.

- overall, just enjoying our time here and taking in the athletes, their bodies, how quick they are when they run, bike, and swim...even during practice workouts. My god..

My connection is so slow to upload photos to my blog, so if you want to see all the pictures, you need to go out to my facebook profile. Send me your email address (and I'll delete it after) and I can send you my info. :)

Kona Bound

Hubby and I leave for Kona on Saturday. Only 2 days from now. And we are over there for 13 days.

I am so excited, I can't contain it anymore. No I am not racing, I wish, but I am not that fast. Maybe when I hit the 70-74 age group I'll toe the line on the Big Island.

We are going because we've always wanted to cheer on the pro's, but we also have 4 friends who are over there racing. So we thought, since we know a handful of peeps doing it, let's go!

I haven't packed yet. I do have a list started of what I need to pack. That is a start.

I have so much to do at work. And I am writing in my blog. Geesh...get my priorties straight.

I am not feeling well. Feels like the flu. Ugh. I am sure these symptoms will go away immediately when I step off the plane in the heat and humidity that the Big Island offers.

I will be taking my laptop to update either my blog or Facebook profile with pictures of the pro's and of our friends.

:)

Girls on the Run

2x a week I coach a program for 3rd-5th grade girls called Girls on the Run. The program incorporates running and discussing various topics related to young girls.

The program is 10 weeks long and in that time we are to get the girls ready to run a 5k. More importantly, during each session we talk about issues related to young girls i.e., body image, emotional health, gossiping, bullying, etc.

Our team was filmed the other day by a local news station...use the link below to watch our team in action.

http://www.channel3000.com/family/21143016/detail.html
Sorry I can't figure out how to add a link in the blog. Just copy and paste into your browser.

On November 14th, we'd love to have you join us for the inaugural 5k hosted by Girls on the Run in the Waunakee area. The link below gives more details about the 5k.

http://www.girlsontherundaneco.org/newbalancegirlsontherun5k.html

Knock, Knock, Knock...Anyone Home?

So sorry I've dropped the ball on this blogging thing. Not sure what has taken up my time, but something has.

Everytime I come out to this blogger world to read 'your' blogs, I think to myself, 'go write something...anything...just to show you are alive and well.'

And I am alive and well.

Here are some highlights of what has been going on in my lil world in Madison, WI.

- Did the 600 mile bike ride in the early part of the summer...so much fun and I would highly recommend riding your bike back to back days.

- Became a head coach for Girls on the Run program here in Madison...there are 13 teams within Dane County - the girls are 3rd-5th grade, so you can just imagine how much fun it would be. Program lasts 10 weeks, 2x a week we meet, a topic is discussed with the girls i.e., body image, gossiping, etc. and then we incorporate running drills around the topic to get them ready for a 5k by Nov 14th.

- Ran the Madison Mini-Marathon (1/2 Marathon) with a bunch of girlfriends and had a blast. We ran it in 2:17:25...

- Trained with friends this summer who are doing Ironman WI. I know I don't miss the training, but now that the race is here - I so want to be toeing that line. Oh well, not this year, not next year even, but I think 2011 I'll be back and ready for another IM.

- Didn't do one tri this year...god knows if the wetsuit fits.

- Only swam once this year so far - 3800 yards for a friend's b-day swim.

- Finally finished all of the remodeling on our house. New roof. 27+ windows. Wood floors redone. Garage torn down and rebuilt. Electric all redone in house. New sod and regraded yard. New paver walkways, patios, and driveway. All in 7 months.

- With the new sod, it has brought the coons out at night where they lift the corners of the sod to find their worms and grubs. Instead of replacing a shit load of sod, we hired Critter Control to set live traps and haul the coons away. So far we've caught 7 racoons - totaling $350 in coon. Damn, I am in the wrong business.

- Still have the kitchen and basement/3rd bathroom to remodel..those will be phased out over the next 3 years. We are done dealing with contractors right now so these projects with just have to wait.

- Traveled to Maine for wedding and Boulder, CO to visit friends.

- Next up is Hawaii to spectate a friend at the Ironman World Championships on October 10th. We head to Kona on Oct 3rd - 14th...can't wait. We've rented bikes to get around the island during the race. We have our outfits all ready to go for the underwear run that takes place the Th before the race (only 1.5 mile run). Cannot wait to try and touch the pro's calf muscles. Yum.

I will try to be a little more diligent about keeping my blog updated. Not that anyone cares about my lil world...but I like to think I have 'fake' friends out there :)

Keep updating your blogs, cause I read them! I just am terrible about keeping mine updated.

Good Luck to everyone doing Ironman WI tomorrow...can't wait to cheer you all on!