A Day of skiing at Crystal Mountain

Today Ryan and I had a wonderful and long day of skiing at Crystal Mountain. We arrived about 9:45am and were on the slopes about 10:45 am due to waiting in line for rentals. I own skis, but didn't get them waxed and plus, mine are 15 years old and decided to try the rental skis for something different. Yes, they were different! My skis are over my head, I think 174mm, the ones they gave me were much shorter, over my shoulder and they were a bit bowed, I believe this is the new way of skiing, apparently you have more control with shorter skis. I didn't fall skiing, but did fall getting off the chairlift, a lady pushed all her weight off of me to get herself up, and I went down! Ha! We had some great moments when Ryan tried acting like goofy teens jumping off snow hills and wiping out! Didn't have the camera for that. I went down a black diamond hill called Wipeout, and did NOT wipeout! The skiing was a bit icy due to the rain we got a couple days ago, but overall a great day! And my new ski outfit made it all the better! Oh - and also have a cool new hat that has built in speakers for my iPod. Thanks Mom and Dad! Check ut pictures and video at the bottom.

2009 Resolution Reflection

I posted my goals in early January for 2009, looking back, let's see how I did:

1. Compete in at least one Sprint Triathlon
-This was completed in May 09, and plan to do many more!

2. Pay off my second mortgage
-This was completed in June, now focused on paying down the first!

3. Try snowboarding
-I went with Amanda to Bittersweet to try it in February, can you say sore butt? I am going to stick to skiing.

4. Volunteer my time in some way
-Not as much as I was hoping, but was able to give my time and volunteered for Variety Children's Charity and helped out at their Christmas party for underprivileged children.

5. Go on a photo walk once a month
-This did not happen, maybe once..

6. Write a monthly budget each month, stick to it, and review budget/actual on my excel sheet
-I try and do this, and its very difficult when things just come up, but still able to pay cash for everything, and feel like I am saving especially without a car payment and my second mortgage being gone.

7. Do 5 pull-ups in a row
- I can only do 2.5 in a row without assistance....even after p90x.

8. Run a 10k
- I never signed up for a 10k race, but the last tri that I did, the run was about 5.5 miles, ok...that's not a 10k...I plan to do it this year.

9. Read 1 book a month
-I still plan to do this, I have some books that I just got for Christmas like Getting Back to Even with Jim Cramer, and No Need for Speed (author forgotten).

10. Of course, something that has always been on my list, lose 15 pounds.
-This will stay on my list forever. Maybe lipo this year, ha??

Books I have read in 2009

So, I was looking over one of my goals for 2009, and it was to read/listen to more books, technically, I told myself 2 books a month, I think that was a little overkill! Ha! But it definitely got me reading: Here are a list of books that I read in 2009:

Jim Cramer’s Real Money: Great book, recently I have put some money into the stock market, this book I have listened to twice, I learn something new the more I listen to him, and also watch his show daily, Mad Money.

Push – Saphire: This book was really good, but warning, very disturbing and hard to listen to. Its about a illiterate, overweight teenager who has been abused by her mother and sexually abused by her father, in which she gave birth to two of her father's children. This book was made into the Golden Globe nominated movie Precious, which prompted me to read it. I am not sure if I can see the movie, as the book was very detailed and graphic, but its one of those books that just put you into another perspective of someone else's life.

The End of Over Eating: Good common sense book about food, dining out, snacking and just overall good health. Obviously, its not the end of overeating for me, ha! But you need these books every now and then when you need motivation of eating healthy.

Eclipse – Stephanie Meyer : I do enjoy these Twilight Saga books, I have one more to go, Breaking Dawn. Oh - and I am Team Jacob.

Born to Run - Christopher McDougal Interesting running book about the elite running world of ultra marathoners (50 plus mile races) and even those that run barefoot! It was a an entertaining story about how the author trained to run an ultra marathon and the people he met on the way. Good book for those into running or trying to love running. I still don't LOVE running, but gave me an better appreciation for it.


The 4 Hour Work Week: : Obviously this book is not going to help me quit work and start my own business and work 4 hours a week like the author, but it gave a lot of great tips for working more efficiently, and quality work, over quantity. It was a fast read, and I would read again.


The Shack - William P. Young: I did enjoy reading this book, a young child is abducted and murdered on a family vacation, the father, a year later, receives a note from God to meet him at the Shack where they found the body. A unique look at God and your relationship. I hope this is turned into a movie.

Fine Dining at Louis Benton

Last night Keith and I went out with friends all dolled up (Amanda, Jason, Marcia, Tricia and Dusten) and celebrated Christmas. We met at Tricia's house for pre-dinner drinks with her wonderful homemade Sangria. We exchanged presents (drew names a few weeks ago). Keith had Dusten and bought him a Michigan windbreaker. Dusten had Keith and got him Tortilla shell warmer bowls! I had Amanda and got her a blue breathable workout under armor shirt and bath and body lotion. Marcia had me and got me a candle holder and candle along with 2 handmade stretch bracelets.

We played a little catch phrase and laughed a little and the we were off to Louis Benton Steakhouse downtown. We knew the place was expensive, as there were no prices on the menu, but fortunately we had a coupon, buy 1 dinner get 1 free up to $25. We started with the calamari and I enjoyed a German Chocolate Cake Martini, and Keith had his staple, beer. The calamari was great, and Dusten ordered Balsamic Portobello Mushrooms. Wow!!! I hate mushrooms, but those were awesome, I could eat an entire meal of that!

I had the Top Sirloin steak with herb garlic butter, it was cooked to perfection, medium seems to be more medium rare, which was great! I upgraded my salad to the French Onion soup, that was phenomenal. Keith ordered Filet Mignon with Oscar topping, which was Asparagus and Hollandaise sauce and King Crab meat. We ordered a family size side of a Loaded Baked Potato, yum! Oh, and can't forget the delicious warm bread, when everyone was afraid to order another serving in fear we would be charged more, I ordered more, and no, bread is free!!

It was a great evening, and after spending $101 even with our coupon, it was worth it, we were living a little!!! Felt like the Trumps!

Making Christmas Cookies

Today I went over to Marcia's to decorate Christmas cut-out cookies. Me, Amanda, Trica and Marcia were bringing Christmas cheer by listening to Christmas music, frosting cookies, and drinking Holiday Nog. Egg Nog and Butter shots. Well Amanda and I had it. We made a ton of cookies and had a great time! Thanks Marcia!

Chicken Faijita Soup

This is a soup recipe I made last weekend, only 2 weight watcher points per cup!!! I added fat free cheese, so add points for cheese. Yummy!

1 15 oz chicken broth
1 " " can refried beans
1 " " can of corn
1 " " can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 jar of salsa
1 can Chicken (9.75 oz)

Put all together in soup pot and heat thoroughly. This is delicious and very filling.

Reeds Lake Triathlon

Reeds Lake Triathlon took place on September 12, 2009. This was my second triathlon and longer distance than the first one I did in May. Distances for Reeds Lake is 1/2 mile swim, 18 mile bike, and 5 mile run. My times:
Distance Intermediate
Clock Time 2:10:54
Chip Time 2:10:54
Overall Place 765 / 914
Gender Place 213 / 295
Division Place 37 / 55
Swim Rank 564
Swim Time 15:20
T1 Time 03:36
Bike Rank 670
Bike Time 57:58
T2 Time 02:32
Run Rank 823
Run Time 51:26

7 days til Reed Lake Triathlon

7 Days until Reeds Lake Triathlon. My wetsuit just came in. This will be my second tri, and a longer one than the last. 1/2 mile swim, 17 mile bike and 4.9 mile run.

Here is a video from my first Sprint tri:

Bike Ride - White Pine Trail

Today I decided to try out the White Pine Trail with my road bike. Going on a bike ride is much more work and time than just going for a run or the gym. At 11am, I gather my heart rate monitor, 2 waters, ipod, bike shoes, bike gloves, helmet and air pump (in case a flat). So I start getting my bike out, and realize I need some major air in the tires. So, I take the front wheel off so I can fit the bike and wheel in the trunk of my car and take it to the gas station around the corner to pump it up. I deposit 75 cents for air, and the realize, I have these funky French type valves on my bike that I forgot about ( I just bought the bike in June). I have presta valves, and not your typical schrader valves like a car. So, I had already started the air, and I am trying to figure out how the air pump fits over my valve, I unscrew what I later learn is a presta to schrader converter valve and try that, but no luck. By now I am just confused and frustrated that I can't blow my tires up, and now there is someone behind me that wants air as well. I decide to pack up and go home. I arrive back at the house and google my valves and figure it out. I practice with my own air compressor at home and it works, but I am only getting 80 psi, and the bike needs 125 psi. So, decide now that I know how it works I will go back to the gas station to fill it up quicker. I head to different gas station and deposit 75 cents, determined to get to 125 psi, I struggle with the damn air pump that wants to wind back up into its pulley, and me trying to balance the bike tire, while pushing and trying to hold the valve straight. I wanted to check the pressure, I let go, and the gage doesn't pop out and tell me my pressure, I was so mad!! The gage must be broke. With my frustration, one of my presta to schrader adapters flung into the parking lot and was nowhere to be found. Good thing I have 2. So, I decide to pack the bike up, almost went home and decided not going because my bad luck. But, just decide to get on 131 and head downtown to Riverside park, and stop at a third gas station to check the tire pressure. So, another 75 cents, I put air into both tires again and check pressure, again, I could only get it to read 80, but I was good with that...I am ready to ride.

So I park at Riverside park at the beginning of the White Pine Trail, and am finally ready to ride at 12:30pm. The trail is the longest rail/trail system in the state, connecting Grand Rapids with Cadillac in the north central lower peninsula. It intersects the Pere Marquette trail in Reed City and there are plans for connections to the Fred Meijer Heartland trail and the Musketawa trail. The trail is surfaced with asphalt pavement from North Park Street at the north end of Grand Rapids north to the village of Sand Lake; a distance of nearly 22 miles. Howard City has 1/2 mile of pavement within its limits. There is also a 13 mile section of asphalt pavement between Big Rapids and Reed City. The northern most mile of the trail in Cadillac is also paved. The remaining 60 miles of the trail is surfaced with packed gravel or cinders with pavement planned for the future.

The route I took was to just north of Belmont and back. About 19 miles round trip. Next time I am going up to Rockford and back. Great trail, and can't wait to do it again. Many bikers today, but the trail is wide enough for everyone and it never felt cramped. It was shaded, scenic and peaceful. I admit I do ride with my ipod, but ear phones in only one ear, and music is not loud.

Higgins Lake Vacation

Well, I just got back from a week long trip at Higgins Lake. Higgins Lake is up north, just about 10 minutes south of Grayling, MI and near Houghton Lake. Higgins lake is so beautiful and clear. It is the 6th most beautiful lake in the world, according to National Geographic. Glen Lake in Michigan being #1, and Torch Lake in Michigan being #3. Some areas of the lake have that light green Caribbean look to it.

The group consisted of me, Keith, Amanda, Jason, Dusten and Dana. Matt came a couple nights, and he left the jet skis for us all week! So awesome! We had a bit of rain and overcast on the first two days, but the next 5 days were pretty hot and sunny. I was even able to get in some open water swim practice for an upcoming tri that I want to do. The house was great! It was an old 1960ish 2 story cottage with a cozy feel to it inside. We enjoyed the large sun room with picnic table inside to eat and of course played dominoes. Other activities were throwing the football, Frisbees, bag toss and rock band at night. We enjoyed camp fires on only 2 nights because the evenings were windy. The sunsets were gorgeous, something you see out of a movie.

There were 2 downfalls, one, the swim beach area was kind of rocky, we had to swim far out to get out of most of the rocks, and 2, I got swimmers itch. Swimmers itch is found in Higgins Lake and other Michigan inland lakes. It happens when people feed the ducks, they poop and then the snails take that in, then these parasites leave the snails and then can penetrate the skin. You are suppose to get out of the water every 20 minutes and towel dry off. I did leave the water, even soaped up and rinsed at the outdoor shower every time, because we were aware of this. But unfortunately, the little damn parasites protruded into my skin, and on Thursday I noticed I had little bumps (like mosquito bites) all over my legs, about 100 between both legs. Keith and Amanda have just found a few. Here is a link on the life cycle of swimmers itch.