Howdy from Lise!

[Lise]

Hello to all my TE friends! To those who don't know me...well...look at the number of posts by my name. Whew! I used to hang out here a lot. What a great bunch of women.

Then....after y'all had listened to my sad stories of dating woes... I fell in love. Yep, "J" from last fall, is definitely now my DBF of 8 months. He's a wonderful man, and we're having a great time together. Yesterday we spent the morning cleaning our bikes, and then tooled around town, riding hither, thither, and yon, including Peet's for coffee, the zoo, Navy Pier, and home again, tired, and happy. He has a huge Trek comfort bike with a saddle that is more like a sofa, and we laugh about it. But the man is 6'2", and can speed away from me in a heartbeat, even when I'm on the Bianchi.

The cost of being in love, however, is that I've barely trained all winter and spring! I went out and tried to run too hard, too soon, and hurt my calves. Slowly coming back from that. Biking is good, and J and I ride 10-20 miles a weekend, but it's hardly the blistering 20 & 30 mile rides I was doing solo last year. I gave away my registration in a sprint tri for the end of last month because I just wasn't ready. I'm signed up for a sprint 8/5, and I *will* be ready for that one.

Last year I bought a full wetsuit, because my plan was to do a 1/2 IM this year. I've realized, though, that I have no interest in spending that much time training, when I'd rather be with J. So I'm going to be selling my wetsuit, and my fancy Tri-Zone tri bag. I got a nifty, if less fabulous tri bag as a goodie bag when I did Pleasant Prairie last summer, and I really don't need two! I took pictures of them today, but cannot get them to upload to my computer. J's a computer guy for his work, so I'll load them at his place; when I'm ready with all that, I'll post it here. The wetsuit is so nice...it's a Athena size Ironman Instinct. I've never worn it in the water. I've tried it on at home, that's all. Sigh. I'm almost 47, and the long distance tri is just not for me anymore.

For those who remember my kitties, Isaac had to be put to sleep three months ago. He got very sick, very fast. Ariel's not doing well now. She has an ulcer in her mouth that just isn't healing. I'm taking her back into the vet tomorrow. She's 17. It's so hard to know when to keep trying to heal her, and when to let her go. It became obvious with Isaac, and I trust it will become obvious with her...I just hate to let her suffer, if I can ease it.

I'm busy, with work, J, and what training I can fit in , so I don't get here often, but I do peek in occasionally, and love to read what everyone's up to. Best wishes to all, for health, endurance, and much fun this summer! Lise

[KnottedYet]

Oh, Lise! It's so good to see you again! I've missed you!

[eclectic]

good to see you back!

Ain't love grand

glad to hear your life is going well

Sad to hear you are selling your wetsuit

Glad to hear you are signed up to do a spring

[salsabike]

Oh, Lise. Nice to see you. I am so glad about J. And so sorry about the cats. We are still keeping the Beeper going with two subcutaneous fluid sessions a week, which she despises. But Nina is almost 16 and Beeper is almost 17, so I know your situation.

Don't forget to take a vacation out here sometime. The PNW TEers would love to show you guys around.

[crazycanuck]

LISE!!!! Dear Lise..I've missed you (((((((((((((hugs)))))))))

It's great to hear you & j are doing well. I often think of you whilst hangin round in TE TD & wonder how you are. How is your job?

Poor Ariel I know how much your kitties mean to you.

I need to send you a postcard from WA to remind you of beaches!

Did you & J ever go overseas? There was a trip of some sort planned, correct?

Must run. Take care & come back soon.

I miss you Lise

C

[Velobambina]

I've missed you as well and was hoping that you were having too much fun to post. By the way, I've been wanting to thank you for recommending Smartwool glove liners---they helped keep my fingers toasty this past winter! Nice to see you back.

[Veronica]

Yes, Lise you have been missed around here! But I'm glad it's a fun and full life that is keeping you away!

V.