PICTURES

I am only putting these here because all of you asked. I think it came out good. In case any one is wondering yes it hurt no I did not cry and yes I self medicated.

TATTOO

I think it is very interesting the feelings people get when they see them and the judgment that people have. Most people love them or hate them. I have two and am getting another tonight. I have one on my back that has five flowers one for each person in my family. I have had it for about six years. When I got it we only had four in our family but Bret and I where trying to have more and I new we would be blessed with another child. I also have one on my hip most people haven’t seen. I have had this one for about fifteen years. This one I am getting changed tonight. When I got this tattoo Bret was with me and it just seemed fun. Well many years later I have decided to change it. My children know I have tattoos and people ask me or should I say my mother asks what I tell them about getting them. We have a few rules in our house one is you can only have two holes in your ears anything else you have to wait till your eighteen. Another is any tattoos you want you have to be eighteen to get. Anyway about a year ago my oldest daughter started talking to me about my tattoo on my hip and I felt like I didn’t have the answers for her. She wanted to know why I picked it do I like it what was it supposed to mean. I really started thinking about it and I first thought of having it removed but than I thought I would rather have it changed. The girl that got this tattoo has grown. So I have decided to have the tattoo changed just as I have changed. I have waited all summer because of my Tri training you can’t get a tattoo wet and swimming in the nasty bay water would not have been good. So tonight is the night I am getting another flower I am excited to see how he covers what I already have. I might post a picture tomorrow of the before and after not sure.

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!

As most of your know we did a Triathlon yesterday. I can say it was crazy. A year ago when I talked to Heather about the Tri or into the Tri we thought sure. We started training in January. When we started I couldn’t even swim one lap. I am not a good swimmer, but twice a week I tried to swim at the gym. I have a good back stroke so I new that I could make it that way if needed. When Heather and I arrived Sunday morning it was still dark we put all of our things in the transition area and took a look around. We decided to go check out the swim. I thought I was going to cry or be sick. It looked very long. As Heather and I stood around waiting for our heat to start we looked like deer in headlights. We saw Becky and cheered for her as she took off. We headed over to get our wet suits on. There is no way to look cool trying to put on a skin tight suit over clothes. Jim arrived with the children. They were all very excited I still felt very sick and worried. When it was time for our wave we walked to the water and I got a swim buddy. A swim buddy is someone who swims next to you and signals if you need help. My buddy was Joy. As Joy, Heather and I got in the water it was very cold, the kind of cold that takes your breath away. When the horn blew off we went. I started freestyle and quickly turned over to my back. After a bit I yelled to my buddy and ask if we were half way there yet. Happily she said yes. I than started thinking don’t go to fast I want to have some energy for the bike. Next thing she said get ready to turn to the left to go around the buoy. I asked her if I was last she said no and that I had caught someone from the wave before us. I flipped over to finish the swim and tried to remember to have my hands hit the sand twice before standing up. As I stood up to run out of the water I thought praise God I made the swim. I started to run into the transition area I was trying to remember to take off my cap, goggles and wet suit as I ran. As I arrived to get my shoes Heather was just getting her bike to leave. She gave me a smile and said she new I could do the swim. As I got my bike I was trying to remember to get my helmet on and walk my bike out of transition. I started out on the bike very tried. When we first came out we went right over the bridge I tried to get some water a dropped my water bottle right in front of three other bikers thankfully they didn't hit it . The ride was long but I felt good. As we headed in from the bike I tried to remember everything I was told don’t take off you helmet until your bike was racked put on my runners belt with my race number. When I arrived back I met up with Heather. I can say that it is very hard to get your legs going after the bike. Heather kept saying she felt like we were running on 2 inch legs. Heather and I talked the entire run. At the one mile sign a man was getting sick I was thankful it was not us. The bridge was rough going up. As Heather and I talked I shared that we can so do this we were going to finish strong. When we started down the last part of the bridge I was telling Heather the end was in sight. As we came off the bridge we saw a man ringing a cow bell we said ring it louder. As we headed into the last fifty yards you can feel the excitement of the crowd. We looked up the line and saw Jim with the Kids. We than past some friends from the gym they all started to scream and clap than the kids started yelling. As we crossed the finish line the overwhelming feeling of success was wonderful. As Heather and I walked back to get our bikes we hugged each other and just felt such a since of joy and achievement. Achievements are that much sweeter when shared with a friend. I’m not sure that I will ever do this again but I will always remember that I did it with my friend.