Do You Get It?

Today (Easter Sunday), my friend and I went out for our training ride. My schedule called for a 3 hour ride and I'm not certain what she had - however, she had done a duathlon race yesterday and was really only in for a recovery ride. Today, the weather was not ideal. It was low 40s with 17 mph winds - I'm sure the gusts were more than that.

We were talking about our friends and family and the fact that they just don't get the whole triathlon workout ethic. This made me think about a comment my father made a few days ago. I had asked him what he had done all day and he said "nothing." He went on to explain that he's earned that right - because of his age.

I have to say that I'm very disappointed in that remark. I'm 55 years old and I hope when I reach his age I can say that I've earned the right to continue a quality life. I hope that I'm laying the ground work now that will help ensure my health and my ability to continue living a life that is more rewarding than just sitting in a chair in front of the TV all day long. Honestly, what type of existence is that?

I watched my aunt, who was always rather vibrant, let her life just slip away. She became extremely obese and at the end of her life, she wasn't able to get up and go to the bathroom herself. I worry that my father is headed down that path - how do you change that mentality? Is there a way to get through to him? I wonder what he thinks when he gets up every day - breakfast and on to the chair and the trusty remote.

I watch overweight people running around the stores in their motorized carts and I want to scream - Get off your fat ass and do something! Foreigners are SO right when they say that Americans have become fat and lazy - I look at children in church who are already exploding out of their jeans and look pudgy. What type of lazy adults are these children going to be?

I hope that I am setting an example for my kids (who are now adults) that you can continue to live a healthy active lifestyle - that this is what you should strive for and continue to maintain.

So, I'm here to say that I Get It - I Want It and I will continue as long as I can and hope I don't see the day when I'm resigned to sitting in my chair and watching life go by.

Purse Challenged

April 5th (what?) and still slacking - but I have an excuse. I've been really trying to make all my workouts - even when I have a 13 hour week. Do people my age really make a 13 hour week? I got close - how about 11?

Anyway, my purse strap broke about 2 weeks ago. At first, I successfully duct-taped it back together but about 2 days ago, it totally bit it. Now I'm carrying my purse in my arms like a baby. Friday night I went out in search of a new purse. Here's what you don't know - I get attached to a purse - REALLY attached and it takes me forever to find a replacement.

Some people buy purses like they buy shoes - but that is not me. I find one purse and I run it into the ground and when it's over, I go through the trauma of finding another one. Purses are either too big or too small or just too expensive - no Goldilocks-moment here - none that are just right.

This current purse I bought back in August off of QVC. (I'm an addict and I admit it.) It is really cute, but when I tried to put all my stuff into it, it wouldn't fit. So, I put it in my closet and figured I'd give it away. At that time I was using the D&B purse my husband bought for me about 9 months ago at an outlet store in Destin, Florida. I'd been looking for that purse for 3 years and finally found one I liked that I would let him pay for (dangling participle, I know).

Then I decided that purse was too big and forced myself to use the one off the shelf that used to be too small. I got it to work out for me and now it's broken. The D&B purse is too big and to heavy - so I need to find something else.

I went to the mall on Friday night (which is truly an experience as the range of fashions on the high school kids is amazing - some very weird stuff). I went to Sears, Macy's, Penney's and Dillard's and found only one potential purse that cost $85 and I didn't like it that much - so I came home empty-handed.

Today, I was going to transfer my stuff into the D&B purse and just couldn't bring myself to do it. So, I guess I'll be toting my "baby" purse around until I can find a suitable replacement. I hope that day comes soon.