Archive for the ‘Goals’ Category

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Product Review: Homax Caulk Refinishing Kit

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

One of the projects I worked on while FUN-employed was to patch some crap spots in our bathroom, remove the caulk and replace the caulk. Then of course paint. When I looked online for how to remove caulk, several tools were recommended. I consulted my dad, the Do It Yourself Puba and he wisely said, “Any project looks better when you use the right tools.” So off to Lowe’s I went.

Chris from the Greensboro store’s paint department recommended the Homax kit:

Homax Caulk Refinishing Kit

Not only did it have a tool to remove caulk, but it also had a separate tool for applying the caulk! All for $5!! It kicked ass for removing the caulk.  I used it when applying the silicone caulk and got the opposite result. It looked like butt when I used it on the silicone caulk. When I used it on the latex caulk (long story why I used 2 kinds of caulk), it was back to kicking ass instead of looking like ass. Interesting findings. I am glad I bought it even if Paul did laugh at me. He recommended I use a screw driver. Funny thing was my dad said he often just used a screw driver.

Maybe the moral of the story is not buy the proper tools for the job. Instead it is girls really do marry their fathers!

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Posted in Family, Goals, Home Improvement | No Comments »

And you thought Paul and I biked a lot…

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

I recently read in Bicycling magazine about an amazing family. Here is a summary from their website:

The four of us (Mom, Dad and twelve-year-old twin boys) are bicycling from Alaska to Argentina. When we reach the southernmost tip of South America, Davy and Daryl will become the new Guinness World Record holders as the youngest people to cycle the Pan-American Highway!

Wow. It makes me think about long bike rides that Paul and I have gone on. Let’s just say that Paul now carries some cheese to go with my whine. Now add 2 kids, whoa. Then doing school on the road–they call it roadschooling, like homeschooling–get it!? HA! Again, I think about nights at the table with Anna and/or Tyler with their homework. Tears flow, voices are raised, frustration abounds. Then add on prep with no supplies except that which you find on the road or carry on your bike?!

Lastly, eating. Paul is a frickin’ saint. Anna won’t even eat turkey on her sandwich anymore. Mayo and an American slice of cheese on bread, with the crusts cut off of course. Tyler can change his mind 3-4 times about liking something within the span on the same dinner. Can you imagine traveling to other countries on a bike (talk about a Very Hungry Caterpillar!) then get off and there is no Harris Teeter to go get skim milk, hormone free chicken or ingredients to even make tortillas (not that they have a kitchen to make stuff in anyhow). Don’t even think about access to McDonald’s, Domino’s, etc.

Surfer Laird Hamilton says he lives his life well by doing something to scare himself every day. Whether you prefer scaring, inspiring, motivating yourself, I think it is a good message. This family is a good example of this.

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Posted in Cycling, Family, Goals, Outdoor, Travel | No Comments »

Quitters, dropouts and failures, oh my!

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Yup, we dropped out. I have been feeling worse each day and can hear the raspy breathing in my chest just climbing a flight of stairs. Paul had a good ride w Tamara this weekend, but has not run successfully in over 6 weeks and even then his blister issue came back. I just emailed the race production company to give our spots to someone else.

What about the motto you ask? I guess if I am ditching goals, I should ditch mottos too, huh?

OK, off to wander aimlessly through life now…

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Posted in Goals, Training, Triathlon | 3 Comments »

NEVER forfeit an entry fee!!!

Friday, May 1st, 2009

As you know from a previous post, Paul was sick at Belews tri. He then proceeded to have 103 degree temp for 4 days. I thought I had dodged the bullet. Until yesterday morning. I think I was fighting it OK, but then training was intensifying and I think my body is worn down. My throat is sore, head ache, stuffy nose. The pollen continues to coat EVERYTHING here. I know it is not the swine flu b/c I do not have a fever. I fly tomorrow to Cincinnati for Elli’s baby shower. I contemplated bringing a face mask from work, but alas, that would be stealing supplies. And I think the hospitals will seriously be needing all the supplies we can use in the upcoming weeks.

So, here we are and according to the main page on our website, Paul and I race the White Lake Half Iron Triathlon in 8 days. 8 days?!?!? When did THAT happen?!?! I am only worried about my asthma now. I anticipate the race taking about 7 hours, which is hard enough w/out suffering from or recovering from respiratory illness. But alas, I have this motto…

NEVER FORFEIT AN ENTRY FEE!!!

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Posted in Goals, Training, Triathlon | 1 Comment »

March Goals

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

Just a head’s up that I have posted my goals for March. Thank you for those of you who are supportive of my goals and sharing them.

Last month one reader was inspired to re-start her running career–what does March have in store for you?

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Chillin at home

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
Sunday morning jam session

Sunday morning jam session

I wanted to add some pics to our site. Not much to say really. Paul has been playing his guitar a lot lately, which has made Anna want to play too. It makes Tyler sad he destroyed his drum set.

Paul, dogs and Barton (L corner of the couch)

Paul, dogs and Barton (L corner of the couch)

The cats have really relaxed quite a bit in the last few months so there are some cute pictures of that too.

Lizardhead (Tyler's Webkinz) on Paulhead

Lizardhead (Tyler's Webkinz) on Paulhead

I love this pic of Anna

I love this pic of Anna

Goal update: I am doing well at “active recovery.” Better than we are doing at completing unfinished projects, that is for sure. :) Taxes are done, Anna and I had some girl time (pic here too),

veggies suck but I learned that you get a TON of spinach for only a few calories so that is what is helping me get that goal checked off. Journaling is sketchy, but I have the rest of the week to get 1 more entry.

Tyler and Bluesy bonding

Tyler and Bluesy bonding

Still on a book slump, but I started Purpose Driven Life this week so perhaps it will be a hit. Everyone else in the world seems to love it according to the critics. Paul’s mom suggested that perhaps because I am on a slump I should write my own book (see bucket list to the right).

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Posted in Family, Goals, Home Improvement, Pets, Training | 1 Comment »

Susan’s bucket list

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

I made a new page tonight (Monday), but Paul won’t make it go live until tomorrow so that you, our audience, will keep being entertained on a daily basis. I think that if that is the case, you should probably go rent a movie. Our life can’t be that fun, can it? :)

Anyhow—see the tab to the right or click here to read my list. PS. I have not been diagnosed w a terminal illness.

XO,

S

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Posted in Goals | 3 Comments »

Great book I just finished reading

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

I want to start to keep you updated on good books I am reading/have read.

Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells is excellent! It is a memoir so although I found it in the non-fiction section, it may very well fall in the category of Million Little Pieces (autobiographical fiction). It was recommended to me by my boss, Lisa Pennington. It is about her family growing up in various places, although her “formative years” were in WVa. It makes crazy look like Beaver Cleaver’s family. But as you will read on the reviews, you can tell as you read the story that she loves her parents and knows they did their best—even at their worst.

Great theme for me as I work on my step-mother skills, which some days seems like all out of a Cinderella fairy tale. Is there a fairy tale where the step mother is NOT wicked? THAT is the book I need to read.

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Posted in Family, Goals | 3 Comments »

The latest reason I love my husband!

Sunday, January 4th, 2009

First of all, b/c “organizing” is now a blog tag so he is accepts this is a continual part of our life together. It really helps me keep mentally healthy! For those of you who don’t know, I tried my hand at a consulting business once, professional organizing was part of it.

Now Paul has gotten into the act. He purchased several sheets of peg board and put it up in the garage. Then he hung his bike maintenance tools (there are 4 shelves of a workbench full of them). We did this on Sat afternoon so while the kids played outside and Paul did that, I spent all that time cleaning out and organizing the garage! AWESOME! Here are the lessons we have learned:

1–Home Improvement Formula: (# hours spent on project) x (1.79) = number of trips to the home improvement store. It took us 5 trips.

2–We have found the limitation to the Honda Fit (see Laminate Flooring post). We wanted 8×8 peg boards cut in half, and after waiting 38 minutes (literally, I know I exaggerate, but I am not here) for some guy to have 27 cuts made (I counted, thinking of the entertainment you, the reader, would get out of this) we went to the car only to find out 4×4 sheets will not fit in the car.  So we returned to the store for additional cuts (this still counted as 1 trip in the formula). At least we made the man cutting the wood smile.

3–There are always unexpected surprises when you clean out a garage. Like bike tools you have been looking for, toys you didn’t know you had, and dead squirrels. Yep–I moved the steam cleaner and there it was. I think I wet my pants. Tyler offered to pick it up for us. Paul again saved the say with a Wal-Mart plastic bag and plenty of anti-bacterial soap.

Stay tuned for the building of loft storage for the garage! Whooo hoooo!!!

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Posted in Goals, Home Improvement | 1 Comment »

Happy New Year!

Thursday, January 1st, 2009

Happy 2009!! I strongly believe that how you spend January 1 sets your intention for the year.  It looks to be a FANTASTIC 2009!! I faded fast last night and Paul and the kids put me to bed at…8:30pm!!! I finished my book (more on this in another post), then slept until…7:15am!! Whooo hooooo!!!! Paul said he has not known the kids to EVER sleep this late. We dropped them off at their mom’s and are riding in a bit. It is expected to be 33 degrees (windchill 28) when we roll out to meet Tamara. Then later we are going to work on building a loft-like storage space in the garage (i.e. ORGANIZING–YEAH!!!!).

This is a great representation of what I would like out of my 2009. Physical, mental, environmental health and wellness. This is something I have been thinking about for the last month, anticipating the new year and my resolution(s).  What kind of woman (athlete, employee, friend) do I want to be? Wife (training partner, partner)? Step-mother (role model, fun haver)? How do I do that all? Who do I think I am to think I am the first woman to struggle with these questions?

Most of you who know me know I am very black-and-white, VERY uncomfortable with grey area. But that lesson seems to keep offering itself to me to learn. All of what I want to be (see above) is linked to that grey area. Perhaps that is what my 2009 theme needs to be: Grey and loving it! …ok, how about grey and liking it!

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Posted in Family, Goals | 2 Comments »

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