Tovn’s blog

In the last, oh, 5 months, I've had a little more excitement than I need. 

First, and most minor, was the flat tire in Vallejo.  I felt something pulling at the car as I began the descent down the big hill into Vallejo.  As traffic backed up and brake lights lit up 80E on a Sunday afternoon approaching the Bay Area, I had a chance to angle my side view mirror down and take a look at my back tire.  Sure enough, detectably low.  I pulled over at the next stop, called Pat and tried not to panic him.  I called AAA, found out our membership had expired.  ooops. Drive to a less scary gas station with trees and some grass and proceed to change my first tire.  It was a warm, but not too hot, afternoon with me and my owner's manual.  I did get one fellow to offer to help (which I declined - if I have to do this, I'm doing it myself -dammit!), but he did politely correct my jack placement.  All went fine.  I had the full-size spare on and back on the road in a relatively respectably amount of time.  And now I could conquer the world!  I had changed my own tire for the first time in my life (nearly all by myself).

Second, last month I had my debit/credit card number stolen.  Some idiot was using it Mexico.  Again, a Sunday, I went to the grocery store at noon.  Becca and I went to the mall later that afternoon, say 4:00.  My card was declined.  I shrugged and used a different card.  I got home and talked with Pat.  He mentioned that I had a message on our home voice mail that the credit card company had called me.  I called back and found out some bozo had been using my card in Mexico.  In four hours they tore through my checking account and the tiny bit of overdraft protection in my savings account.  Other than the hassle of going into the Golden One in SF (ick) and filling out an affadavit that was poorly written, the laugh really is on those dunderheads in Mexico.  Sure they got a few bucks, but I'm living on poor internship wages, they got the wrong person's card.  Of course, how strong is the dollar really in Mexico...?

Lastly, early this morning, I came out to my car to find this:  

More dunderheads.  In case the photo is hard to see, that stuff in the front seat is glass bits.
I left my iPod visible.  Yes, that was stupid and I don't do it when I park at work, but I've been doing it for several months near Becca's house.  I got my warning.  Won't do that again.  But, if you look closely, you'll notice they left my refreshing Gatorade.  How's that for thoughtful.

The good news is that my window was fixed the same day so if it should rain, I'm not completely screwed.  I only had to make five calls early this morning and miss only an hour of work (this means a lot when I have to stay late to make it up).  1)  call work (find an extension for anyone who is actually there at 6:00am),  2) call the police -- referred to the internets for filing a report (or wait until 8:30 to talk to a person or drive my car to the nearest police station -- ok! internet it is!), 3)  call Pat for insurance info (as well as let the poor guy know my day sucks way earlier than his), 4) insurance (possibly file a claim for the iPod under homeowners and get a new number for auto glass replacement claims), 5)  auto glass replacement claims -- they offer to find someone to either come out or I can go in.  I have to say the mobile glass guys rock!  Last but not least, I had to wake my sister to take me into work at 7:15.  She's such a trooper!  I can't forgot Karim, just for being home today.

All I can think about is that quote, "What doesn't destroy me, makes me stronger."  Well, perhaps life could ease up, you know, just a little.  I don't need to have all these life experiences in less than 6 months. Really. 

I'm tired...again.  Yes, but this time it's for a different reason.  This time I physically exhausted myself swimming, biking, and running around Treasure Island on Sunday...for fun.  And, it was fun.  The cheerleaders were the best part though (besides completing something I've wanted to do for a long time).  My husband snapping photos (some may get posted here sooner or later) and my sister hooting and hollering something about my legs, and other Janes (women from my triathlon training team) cheering each other on, made the day that much lovelier.  I tried to remind myself to look towards East Bay as I rode my bike or ran on the east side of the island and look at the San Francisco skyline as I biked the west.  Those views were quite a bit sweeter than the tired naval station look to much of the island and the butts of the other bikers as they passed me by.

So here are my stats in case you wanted them.  My total time was 1:31:34. 
I placed 20th in my age group (fyi, there were 31 women 35-39), 116 women (217) and 334 overall (497 total)
0.5K Swim:  11:02 min, #172 out of the water (overall),
Transition 1:  2:48 min
20K Bike:   48:11 min, #425 off the bike (overall), 15.4 mph
Transition 2: 1:02 min
5K Run: 28:31 min,  #335 overall run, 9:11 pace

I was happy about the run pace, cause I felt like a slug and expected to run about a 10 min mile.  So not too shabby.  Need to work on those bike skillz though.  Maybe some new gear... Well, I'll worry about that next year.

Lots of room for improvement.

I should be doing something productive, like studying for my hematology exam on Friday, or doing my short bike workout, or even just cleaing up my computer.  I am writing this instead and trying to hold off sneaking upstairs to play World of Warcraft on the computer whilst the Sanjabis nap. I swear that Karim giggles at my new addiction.

I don't think I can hold out much longer.  There's just only so many hours in which the computer is free...

Ok, gotta run!

Although this time in SF has mostly been focused on triathlon training, oh, I mean CLS training, the passage of time seems unending and relentless.  (As I may have metioned before, I'm tired.) 

However, today marks a milestone -- I'm halfway through my training at SFGH.  20 weeks down, 20 weeks to go.  40 weeks total - about the length of a pregnancy, or so I'm told. 

I was all set to celebrate and have some sort of commemoration, but I think I'll just sleep.  Maybe bike Honey Run Sunday, you know, keep it easy and simple.

blah blah blah...tired....blah blah blah