Time to start over....

Admittedly it's been ages since I last posted. Life has changed drastically. Divorce has a way of turning life upside down and forcing you to take a long, hard look at what you really want. For me, there's no clear answer to the questions. I feel like I'm still stumbling around trying to land on both feet. But what a ride it has been. Maxi, my first dog, died of cancer in my arms. He was the sweetest boy and I miss him terribly. Roxy has taken over the Top Dog slot. It took her a while to feel comfortable but she's got the hang of it now. I found the most wonderful boyfriend who makes me smile inside and out. He gets me. We live a thousand miles apart but no one ever said love would be easy. In December 2012 my parents, sister, brother-in-law, nephews and my boyfriend and me all flew to England for Christmas and New Year to share in my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. We hunkered down at my cousin Melindi's house and ate, drank, and made very merry! I celebrated finishing Ironman Arizona too. Finally, a relatively flat course! 2013 was full of fun. I did very little on the training front so all fitness has disappeared. Instead, my boyfriend and I traveled back and forth visiting each other. We went to Pittsburgh a couple of times. The first was, sadly, for his fathers funeral. The second trip was for Thanksgiving and it was chock-full of family and food and laughter. And we went to Hawaii, via Seattle, to watch the Ironman World Championship in Kona. What an unforgettable trip. We snorkel end, paddle-boarded, rode around in a convertible mustang, cheered on Hines Ward and the other competitors, drank Mai-Tais and ate sushi. And Seattle was the perfect antidote to too much time on a plane. This year is off to a good start. I attended a conference in the Bahamas at Atlantis and stayed on to celebrate my birthday. My boyfriend flew down and we made the most of every minute. The food was excellent, the drinks cold, the lazy river was invigorating and the Super Bowl party was entertaining. But the best experience of all was swimming with the dolphins. Amazing! I'm truly an Aquarius. I just got back from a long week of arbitration in Orlando but I stayed an extra day and spoiled myself with a pedicure, some shopping, and a nice steak. So this is the part where I announce that I am certifiably crazy because I signed up for my 4th Ironman - Mont Tremblant, Canada on August 17. Training officially starts on Saturday with a swim and run, followed by a TriLoco breakfast. We have 32 TriLocos signed up to race, including my boyfriend who got bored watching and decided to join in. Canada may never be the same. Undertaking this journey, again, will be a true test for me. I have put on a lot of weight, and developed some persistent pains in my lower legs and lower back. I need to find a way to train without injuring myself. To help me track progress, and keep me accountable, I plan to check in here regularly. Hopefully someone will find my blog and join my on my journey, albeit "virtually." That's enough for now. Goodnight.