Long Weekend Fun!

This one is a little long….  But, there’s a lot to cover.

Another week of training is in the books!  It was a successful week, although I didn’t hit every work out partly because of Thanksgiving.  But, over the week I remembered to be thankful for all of the blessings in my life, including my ability to actually be a part of the IronTEAM and fundraise for LLS while I train.

Last week I went out to the Westside two more times, after practice out at Dockweiler on the previous Saturday and a bowling fundraiser in Culver City on that Sunday, I was starting to feel like I was spending more time on the Westside than in the Valley.  I would have loved this a couple years ago, but now, not so much.  On Monday I headed out to the airport to pick up a friend who had a layover and we met up with some friends for a bit. 

Then on Tuesday I headed to Culver City for coached swim, normally I swim on Thursdays, but seeing as it was Thanksgiving on Thursday I needed to get to one of the other swims.  I left my house at 6:45 thinking it would take me about 45 minutes to get there.  Wrong.  I didn’t get down there until almost 8, so much traffic.  Thankfully there were two swims, so I went to the later one.  That traffic made me never want to drive back to the Westside.  But, then, I hit EPIC traffic on my way home, it was so much worse than the traffic on the way down.  It was 9:45 pm and the 405 was not even crawling.  Stop and go traffic would be generous.  It took me 20 minutes to go one exit, about a half mile.  Ugh.  Clearly this was the universe telling me to stay in the Valley for a while.  Gotcha.  Loud and clear.  Valley it is.

Wednesday night I headed to the pool near my house to do more swim drills.  I felt good in the pool both nights.  Swimming seems to come a bit easier for me than running, so I don’t mind going. 

I was going to get up early on Thanksgiving and go meet a couple of friends for a hike to the Nike Missile Site, but when the alarm went off I knew all I wanted to do was go back to sleep.  So, I did, as I had a long day of Thanksgiving cooking ahead of me.  We had a nice small Thanksgiving dinner, just my parents, younger sister, my new roommate and I.  I successfully made a bunch of things (I usually do most, if not all the Thanksgiving cooking), including vegan chickpea stew for my mom and sister (I modified the recipe as I went and was a little nervous that I had messed it up, but it turned out well).  We had a lot of other food too, including my extra special, famous around these parts, homemade cranberry sauce.  Seriously, it’s kind of awesome (too bad I forgot to take a picture of it).  I also made an apple and pumpkin pie, including crust from scratch.

Chickpea stew, looks gross, apparently it was tasty.

Friday I was scheduled to swim again, but instead I headed to Disneyland with Allison to celebrate her 30^th birthday, which was Saturday.  Before we left I realized I couldn’t find my debit card anywhere.  This was mildly concerning, but I checked my bank account balance and it was what it should be, so I didn’t worry too much.

We had a really good time, despite what seemed like a million strollers, and some crowds, we still got on everything we wanted to ride and two of our friends met up with us part way through the day.  I will say, there are WAY too many strollers at Disneyland.  I know that it is a kid place, but seriously, strollers 3-5 rows deep at every ride is a lot, I get it, but still.  And, we definitely all got tagged by a stroller at least once. 

Also,  a kid sitting behind me on Indiana Jones pulled my hair 3 times. Seriously?  Not cool.  I almost turned around and said something, but I knew it wouldn’t get me anywhere.  I will say that people need to teach their kids better manners.  It was rude and my hair wasn’t hanging in to their row, it was pulled into a ponytail and definitely not in their way.  Rude.  Regardless of that stuff, it was a fun filled day, with churros, and pretzels and trying on silly hats (which I have pictures of, but I’m pretty sure Allison would kill me if I shared) and there were two viewings of Captain EO, cause sometimes you just need a little (or a lot) of MJ in your life.  (Actually the two viewing happened because Allison and I had already seen it and then the cousin of our friend who met us had never even heard of Captain EO - she is only 20 and from West Virginia, so we - maybe me - decided she needed to experience the wonderful cheesiness of Captain EO.) 

80's 3D + Michael Jackson = Captain EO Awesomeness

Saturday started with an early wakeup call (and still missing debit card) and I headed to IronTEAM practice at Griffith Park.  This was our second bike ride and I was a little nervous, I mean I didn’t even make it out of the parking lot the previous bike ride.  But, after practicing how to clip in and out again (somehow this time it made more sense, maybe cause I had practiced the previous weekend), and riding around the parking lot a couple of times, I made it out on to the street!  And, I didn’t fall once!  I almost fell at a stop sign, but there was a fence and I caught myself and I almost fell when I returned to the parking lot, but again caught myself and prevented a fall. Yay!  I only rode 12 miles, but it felt like a HUGE success, there were plenty of stop signs, turns and stop lights that I learned how to deal with successfully, so all in all a good ride.  I do have to say riding a bike clipped in is a weird thing.  I’m sure I’ll get used to it, but it feels so weird to be attached to the bike.  No new bruises or scrapes, always a good thing.

Saturday evening we had Sushi Thanksgiving at our house.  We had more people at this Thanksgiving than at actual Thanksgiving.  It was a fun evening, filled with family, friends and lots of sushi – which we made at home, and I made another, better pumpkin pie and a vegan apple crisp, which both turned out delicious.

Sunday, my debit card was still MIA, but bank account balance was normal, so I was still not worried.   I had two work outs to get through, first a 75 minute run which I did on my own.  It was a little slow, 6.5 miles, but I got it done.  Then I had another round of swimming drills to get done.  After swimming I went out to meet up with Allison and a couple other friends for her birthday.  It was a long, fun filled weekend.  And, then, I woke up on Monday morning with a cold, and still no debit card.  Boo on both fronts.  RnR Vegas half is this weekend and I do NOT want to be sick.  I’ve been sick in Vegas before and it is MISERABLE.  I’m not saying the double workout did it, but…. Maybe…. Or it could have been all the germy kids at Disneyland.  Blech.

The tale of the lost debit card ended on Monday night.  I was cleaning up my room and a pile of scarves (yes, I live in LA and own lots of scarves, completely unnecessary and I don’t care), and the card reappeared.  I think it just wanted to take a vacation for a few days, too bad I know the number by memory and made a couple of online purchases anyway, take that card!  Thankfully I didn’t have to cancel it and get a new one, which I was going to do today.  And, I NEED to remember to put it back in its slot in my wallet, I have a VERY bad habit of NOT doing that.

I’m supposed to run tonight, but my body is saying no.  I was feeling okay this morning but I’m now feeling a little worse (headache, scratchy throat, super stuffy and a little fever) and think rest might be in order.  Tomorrow I’m hoping to feel back to my normal self again.

While I am sick, and slightly irritated about it, I am incredibly thankful for all of the blessings in my life.  Thanksgiving just reminds me that my life is good.  While I am sometimes stressed, or have only a little money, or am frustrated with things, my life, overall, is pretty darn good.  I have a roof over my head and food to eat.  I have a wonderful family and amazing friends, who I would do anything for and I think would do the same for me.  I have a sweet little dog that I love to pieces and who loves me unconditionally.  I have good health and good times to make the hours tick by.  I have a job I enjoy and passions that keep me going.  For all of these things I am so incredibly grateful.  And for all of these reasons I will continue to fight for a cure.  There are a lot of people out there who are struggling in one way or another and I know that my fundraising with LLS will help lead to better treatments for, and eventually a cure for blood cancer.  This is how I show my thankfulness and appreciation for life, by doing what I can to help others.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend and took the time to appreciate all the good things in your life.

If you would like to support my efforts in training for, and eventually completing Vineman (an ironman distance triathlon) please click this link:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/vinefirn13/ewallersco 

Click on DONATE NOW and help me reach my goal.  Even just a couple of dollars helps.  Thank you for your support every step of the way, without you I would not be able to train, I wouldn’t have even been able to begin training.  Each of you make this crazy adventure possible for me.  Your support means more to me than words can say.  So, thank you.

Thanks!