Cliche's and Landsharks, Oh my...smile

What are the goals for the new year?  How can one decide?  I've had so many over the years.  The same cliche's apply, lose weight, eat healthy.  When will it finally click.  I certainly did go on an exercise bonanza, running 14 races, of which 6 were triathlons and one half marathon.  The rest were 10 miles, 10K and a variety of 5k's.  That was a huge boon for me.  I've always been into sports.  Growing up in my small town in Oklahoma, only 85 were in our graduating class.  I went all 12 years at the school, and the last were spent as one of about 10 of us that rotated and played every sport for the school.  Volleyball, softball, track and basketball are all represented on my letter jacket.  

Now what.  Well, first up, I'll be making a T-shirt quilt using the shirts from my races.  I guess they don't expect someone to make that many races, and to be a collector of so many t-shirts.  But, here I am with enough for 2 quilts.  I've come up with a most ingenious way to border my quilt, I'll have to show that later. 

Right now, I'm enjoying hanging out with some pretty neat people I've come to know through my exercising.  There really is a whole community of support out there for people willing to put in the effort to participate.  These folks are the Landsharks.  It's a triathlete club here in Louisville.  I joined so I could do an open water swim for my NYC Olympic distance triathlon, July 8th, 2012.  For a few months I was swimming in a lake in Indiana with them.  They are very accomplished athletes, many being in the top 10 if not top leader of their age group.  But, they take time to encourage and pull me along, sometimes a bit reluctantly.  But, a lot of them are single and it's a bit easier to go out and socialize when you don't have anyone at home that you also enjoy spending time with...smile.

Sweaty Sheep 5K for the Homeless.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012312220066

We made the paper!  What a fun day with friends exercising on the Waterfront in Louisville, Ky.  This town has a fabulous waterfront development.  You can listen to great music and watch fireworks while watching the lazy river move boats along.  We are blessed in Louisville. 

My friend Patti and I ran in our Santa suits.  We brought potluck to the event.  My sugar cookies were a hit!  Patti's macaroni and cheese mysteriously disappeared.  I suspect someone wanted a treat all to themselves!!

NYC Triathlon

They say that endurance runners are running from something.  Maybe it's old age?  Are we resisting the  years that are sure to bring the layers of life we don't want.  Could it be the layers we've already run up, like stairs to some magic window?  I think a part of me loves my quality time with myself, where I can talk to God or just run and cry and no one knows but me, myself and I.  Maybe I cry because I am happy and in my own way, whether I win a race or not, it's just the fact that I got to the starting line is all that matters. 

 My white Vita Wildcat didn't make the whole race with me.  I had a flat tire on the back of my bike.  Luckily a nice New Yorker felt she couldn't finish the race and loaned me her bike.  It was way too small, but, I finished the race on a hybrid.  I'd done 5 triathlons up to this point on my Specialized Vita Hybrid bike.  I was hoping to finish on it, but, instead, I chose to swap bikes on the road.  

 I love a wet suit!! It makes me so buoyant and really do float somewhat.  But, it's still a workout to swim for .9 miles in the Hudson river in NYC.  You have to dodge a lot of people and try to stay away from the rocks!!

Elephant quilt for Taya!

Blogs are good for nothing, if not for reminding you of what you've done.  I thought I was over due for a baby quilt for Taya, who is soon to be 2.  But, after searching this blog I've found I made one for her!!! I completely forgot...thanks old age...smile.  

Well, I know she likes elephants, so I'm making it anyway.  I have another baby in the family about to be born, but, it's not until April, so I'm almost finished with this one. 

I'm auditioning fabrics for borders.  I think I like the "harder" border on the right as opposed to the "floaty" border on the left.  It is a great study in how much the border effects the quilt.  You can look at one side and see how they pull that color out of the quilt more strongly than the other.

Seward and the Kenai Fjords and PUFFINS!!!

Our cruise is over and now we must kill a day in the beauty of Alaska until our flight leaves at midnight.  The thinking is, I believe that we are to sleep all night on the plane and wake up in Denver at 7:00am.  Well that didn't happen sleep and hour wake up, etc.  Oh well, the price we pay....

Pulling into Seward we had our last buffet breakfast of the cruise.  Now the buffets weren't 5 star, but, they were feeding 2000 plus people so they were very good.  I probably put on 5 to 10 pounds at least, but, I don't like the scale, so I go by my clothes and how they feel, and they were getting tight!  

Exiting the ship, we had set our bags out the night before and with luck, they will meet us in Kentucky on Saturday.  So, we began our excursion at the Sea Life center in Seward, Alaska.  There were all kinds of interesting creatures in rehab.  There was a baby walrus that appeared to be quite a find from the staff.  There was also a mama octopus that was dutifully tending the white ribbons of eggs, hoping that one would pop out and become a baby octopi.  

Then there were puffins!  and lots of other birds there.  I had scheduled a visit to this facility, incase we didn't get to see any out in the wild.  Boy was I wrong, we saw lots of puffins in the wild.  There are fascinating birds that are called the clowns of the sea.  They have to flap their wings so hard to get flight, and then they sort of run on the water to get going.  

 Marathon Mountain!

 A whale! and puffins!

Sadly our day ended and left Alaska a bit tired but happy.  And our luggage was where it was supposed to be, at home in Louisville, Ky.

Hubbard's Glacier...One of the biggest in AK. WOOT!

Gliding in close to the Hubbard's Glacier is a little spooky and awe inspiring.  

The sights and sounds are magnificent!

 Mom and Dad were a few doors down. 

Puffins tomorrow!

Gliding slowly into the grey cold spookiness of the glacier, I felt a little tingly.  How amazing is the blue beauty of a glacier.  Besides the sights there are the sounds, cracking thunder and crumbling ice.  I was so happy to share this experience with my husband and folks!  We started out up top and were able to soak it in a bit, before we went to our balcony room.  It's nice being able to sit in the warm comfort of the room and then go in and out on the balcony to see and hear the explosive sounds of beauty.